Mates and Dates is a programme for secondary school students.

It is aimed at teaching young people healthy relationship skills and behaviour to help prevent sexual and dating violence.

TWT says sexual violence, like so many forms of violence experienced by Maori, will not be reduced by programmes like Mates and Dates.

In a press release, they say the money would be better invested in culturally appropriate teacher-led sexuality education in schools.

TWT says Mates and Dates is unconnected to the realities of Maori and fails to draw on the wealth of historical and contemporary Maori knowledge and practices associated with healthy relationships.

What is required is an evidence-based national plan for culturally appropriate sexuality education.

There are programmes underway in some schools where teachers are already addressing consent and sexual violence as part of comprehensive sexuality education.

However, a lack of specific policy, funding and the political ‘will' to lead the charge is prevent the programme from being rolled out nationally.

This month the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has published its Concluding Observations on New Zealand's 8th Periodic Report.

Among the observations were:

• The high level of gender-based violence in New Zealand, especially domestic and sexual violence
• The low levels of reporting of violence within Maori communities - only 20% of family violence and 9% of sexual violence is reported
• The lack of culturally appropriate approaches and distrust in public authorities
• This lack prevents Maori and other ethnic minority women from seeking protection from domestic and sexual violence

Source

• scoop.co.nz
• tewhariki.org.nz
• acc.co.nz
• nzfvc.org.nz
• Image: laraphillips.co.nz

Mr 'Akilisi Pohiva said local women's groups would again be asked to carry out public consultations.

Tonga has been preparing to ratify the convention since 2015. Last year Pohiva said the Government was stepping back from ratification after opponents protested that it could open the way for same-sex marriage and abortion.

"We made it clear that some of the clauses in regards to CEDAW are well taken by government and there are a few we do not think that they are appropriate," Pohiva said.

"We cannot apply this provision in the case of Tonga. That is why we thought the most appropriate action to be taken is to send them back for review and for discussion."

In May 2016 the Catholic Women's League presented a petition to parliament.

Lady ‘Ainise Sevele, the Assistant President of Tonga's Catholic Women's League with the Vicar-General Monsignor Lutoviko Finau and other church members led the march of about 300 people.

At the time Lady Sevele said the petition had more than 2000 signatories, calling for the Government of Tonga not to ratify the United Nation's CEDAW convention for women.

The main reasons for their opposition is that they believe the convention, which seeks to eliminate discrimination against women, clashes with their Christian faith and does not concur with the fundamental values of Tonga's family life.

Tonga is one of only six UN members which haven't ratified CEDAW, including Iran, Sudan, Somalia and the USA.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• matangitonga.to
• Image: radionz.co.nz

Cabinet announced earlier this year its intention to join the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women, or CEDAW.

Multiple petitions and marches followed the announcement including a parliamentary resolution asking the government not to ratify CEDAW.

Opponents have expressed concern that it will allow same sex marriage and abortion.

The privy council recently asked the government to reconsider its decision.

'Akilisi Pohiva, who supports CEDAW, says the decision is up to the people.

"It is a matter for the people to decide and since the public is split, there's a split amongst the people of the country, I think the best thing to do is to give it to the public to make the decision."

In May Pohiva told Radio Tonga he thinks the issue is important and the government will leave it for the people to see what their decision will be.

He said he believed there would be a referendum and he was going to discuss it with the cabinet.

Tonga currently has no legislation to allow referenda.

The acting Attorney General said there would need to be new legislation and resources for such an exercise.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• Image: radionz.co.nz

Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki, the director of the Women's and Children's Crisis Centre, stated in an interview with Radio New Zealand that there are plenty of people who do support the empowerment of women.

According to Guttenbeil Likiliki, 13 NGOs have come together under the Civil Society Forum to show their support for CEDAW.

She says that even though the group doesn't have the resources of local churches which have mobilised against CEDAW, representatives from these NGOs will sign the petition.

Two MPs, Fe'ao Vakata the Minister of Internal Affairs, and Semisi Sika, had signed the petition.

Guttenbeil Likiliki says the petition letter, addressed to the speaker Lord Tu'ivakano, states CEDAW will not undermine Tongan attitudes to abortion and same sex marriage.

She says these two issues are not spelled out in CEDAW nor are they hidden within some other clauses of the convention as has been claimed by its opponents.

Source

• radionewzealand.co.nz
• nepituno.to
• Image: nepituno.to

In an interview on Radio Australia Father Seluini Akauola said opposition to ratifying CEDAW is very strong.

Akauola said the suggestion that there should be a referendum is a "diversion from having to talk about the issues."

He said he saw little point in having a referendum because "all you need to do is to look at the petitions the people are making."

"It is going to be a very expensive exercise and there is no need for the country to waste its energy on this."

Akauola denied accusations made on social media calling into question the credibility of petitions made to the Government and to the King in recent weeks.

He said he had not heard anything to suggest the church was threatening to excommunicate those who did not sign the petitions, as had been suggested on the social media.

The church groups are opposing the ratification of CEDAW because they believe it will open the way to the legalisation of abortion and same gender marriage.

Tonga's Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva believes there will be a referendum and he will be discussing it with the cabinet.

However the prime minister says the exercise will cost time and money.

Tonga currently has no legislation to allow referenda.

The acting Attorney General says there would need to be new legislation and resources for such an exercise.

Source

• radioaustralia.net.au
• radionewzealand.co.nz
• Image: images.tvnz.co.nz

Parliament opens 28 May. The government announced to the UN in March this year that it intended to ratify CEDAW.

The main reasons for their opposition is that they believe that the convention, which seeks to eliminate discrimination against women, clashes with their Christian faith and does not concur with the fundamental values of Tonga's family life.

Lady ‘Ainise Sevele, the Assistant President of Tonga's Catholic Women's League with the Vicar-General Monsignor Lutoviko Finau and other church members led the march of about 300 people. Lady Sevele said the petition had more than 2000 signatories.

The government has faced mounting pressure since announcing it would ratify CEDAW.

Three separate christian groups have submitted petitions to parliament objecting to the ratification process with many worried it would open the door for same sex marriage and abortion.

MP Samiu Vaipulu is putting forward a parliamentary resolution asking the Tongan government to stop going ahead with the ratification.

Vaipulu says the people have done all they can and now the issue is between parliament and the government.

Source

• Matangitonga
• Radio New Zealand
• Image: Matangitonga

Mafi says all forms of discrimination against women are already clear enough in Tonga's laws and are forbidden in Christian churches.

He says the reason the church does not approve of the conventionis that some of the clauses in it are in conflict with the church's beliefs, like abortion and same sex marriage.

Mafi says the nation's motto "God and Tonga are my inheritance" highlight the fact that God is first.

And so everything has to go accordingly with God's plans and not what the United Nations wants, he says.

The Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva says the decision to ratify was arrived at only after thorough discussions and consultations with the community and church leaders as some of the provisions of CEDAW are clearly in conflict with Tonga's Constitution and laws.

He says the decision to ratify was made on the very clear understanding that the Government's ratification will be with reservations in respect of those provisions that are incompatible with local laws.

In effect, this means that Tonga is prepared to apply the provisions of the Convention nationally, on the condition that it does not conflict with the provisions of the Constitution and laws of Tonga regarding succession to the throne and nobility, abortion and same sex marriage.

Mr Pohiva says the duration of the reservations will be unlimited.

The UN has tentatively welcomed the move.

However the Officer in Charge of the Regional UN Human Rights Office for the Pacific, Satya Jennings, insisted that once Tonga has undergone the actual ratification process, it should bring national legislation in line with "international standards".

Source

• Radio New Zealand
• Radio New Zealand
• Radio New Zealand
• Image: image.slidesharecdn.com

There were at least four faifekau in the room. One of them shouted, "You women should know your place!"

The roundtable meeting was called to discuss the Tonga's ratification of CEDAW. [The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women].

It was made up of relevant stakeholders from the community.

Vanessa Heleta who runs the Talitha Project for the development of young women said, "They are using the bible to say the male is the head of the family and they say to us don't be selfish, women are under men - just be content where you are."

"They all know it is unfair. When they say there is no need to address the gaps…I feel disgusted - absolutely disgusted," she said.

Tuna Aleamotu'a, Technical Advisor to Tonga's oldest women's organisation the Langafonua-‘a-Fafine Tonga, said "I don't have a place, where is our place? It's everywhere. There is no place."

"In a good loving home you don't need to define a place to know where you are."

"When the faifekau says women should know their place - it's the faifekau who should know his place."

"His place is to be humble and know his people. There are many women-headed households in Tonga - just see the census," she said.

"But in my life, in our culture, I'm the head of the people who are dependent on me, somebody has to lead, so that we can survive."

"But with my leadership I have to look at each one and cater for their shortcomings."

"It's difficult but it doesn't mean that you lead and dominate, it doesn't mean that nobody speaks and suggests anything."

Only seven countries, including Tonga have not signed CEDA.

The other countries include Iran, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia - four nations known for their human rights violations.

The other two countries are Palau and the USA, which is regarded as "the only democracy that has not ratified the convention "- although internally President Carter signed CEDAW at its outset and President Obama has also committed wholeheartedly to it.

Source

• Matangi Tonga
• Image: pbs.twimg.com