The Gender Affairs Department is the government mechanism to support all departments to address gender issues through their policies, programs and services – ensuring that they address the respective needs and priorities of both women and men, the causes of gender gaps or inequalities and exclusion, and fulfil the human rights of all people in all their diversities.  GAD’s role is:

• To be a gender equality information hub by generating and disseminating information on gender inequality and issues of exclusion.
• To support awareness-raising about gender equality and social inclusion, including about policies and laws.
• To develop technical capacity to mainstream gender and address critical gender issues.
• To establish standards and support systems and mechanisms for mainstreaming gender and social inclusion.

This folder contains our newsletter and information on projects and campaigns led by the Department. 

Gender is not only about Women & Girls.

I have been working in social development for more than 6 years and joined the Gender Affairs Department in 2021. I've always been fascinated by human interactions and believe that we can all contribute to ensuring everyone's safety and well-being. My passion for communication led me to utilize my skills in promoting fairness and equality for all Tuvaluans.

Regardless of gender, whether we are women, men, girls, or boys, our gender influences our lifestyle, activities, and relationships. Embracing this diversity is important. However, we must address gender inequality—the unequal treatment and opportunities between women and men. It's distressing to know that 44 percent of women and girls in Tuvalu experience violence in their supposed safe haven, their homes. We should not accept inequality in our society, as it breeds anger, fear, sadness, and distress, which contradicts the values of our Tuvaluan community.

As a Project Manager, my role involves supporting the development and implementation of projects that promote gender equality and empower women. Let's collaborate to ensure that everyone in our community has what they need for a good life, feels safe, and is included. Reach out to me for more information on gender equality and social inclusion or if you'd like us to participate in your initiatives.

If you didn't know, now you know!

I joined the Gender Affairs Department in 2022 after working as an elementary school teacher. I strongly believe in challenging the limitations imposed on women and men based on their gender. Gender stereotypes assume that women are naturally better at cooking and raising children simply because they are female, while men are assumed to excel as managers and leaders because they are male. These stereotypes are not based on facts but on societal expectations. We learn skills like cooking, fishing, computer usage, management, and leadership through exposure and practice. My belief is that both boys and girls can develop a wide range of skills and knowledge if they are given equal opportunities and access to education.

As the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, my role involves providing information about the current state of gender equality, identifying gaps, and understanding the underlying causes of these issues. I collaborate with various government departments in different sectors to ensure that the perspectives and needs of both women and men are acknowledged and addressed. This is what gender mainstreaming is all about. If you would like to learn more about gender mainstreaming or if you would like the Gender Affairs Department to collaborate on integrating gender perspectives into your initiatives, please get in touch. It is crucial to ensure that "no one is left behind."

Gender equality and social inclusion are key drivers of sustainable development in Tuvalu. The nation's commitment to promoting equal opportunities, empowering women and girls, and ensuring the inclusion of all citizens reflect our own cultural and Christian values.  Those values guide our work at the Gender Affairs Department. We believe that every human being must be treated fairly, with dignity and respectfully, and are entitled to human rights and to enjoy all the positive aspects of our culture whoever they are and wherever they live.

The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Information Hub provides information on our commitments to gender equality and the rights of persons with disabilities. It also provides an array of information on the situation and our challenges in Tuvalu. Users can also find tools and guidelines to help them integrate gender and disability perspectives into our policies, programs, and services.

The InfoHub is for people working in the government, civil society organisations, development partners, and everyone who is interested to learn about the situation and what we can do about it. It will also be regularly updated with new information and new tools.

Through this information hub, we hope to raise awareness, inspire action, and foster dialogue on these crucial issues.

If you need further information or want to contribute to the GESI InfoHub, please contact us at (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)