Republic of Nauru Women s Affairs Department BEIJING + 20 REVIEW NAURU REPORT The Women s Affairs Department as mandated in the Reviewed Nauru National Women s Plan of Action 2004-2015, with its overall goal to advance and improve the quality of women s lives in Nauru, the Nauru National Women s Policy with the Goal for the full participation of women in all government plans, policies and programs, and as stated in the Nauru Sustainable Development Strategic Plan (NSDS 2009-2025) a just society that recognises and respects the rights of women and promotes equal opportunities with which comply with obligations under CEDAW. Nauru in August 1997 created an Office for women and employed an Officer in Charge (OIC) to oversee to the establishing of the Office for women. Assistance was sought from the Pacific Women s Resource Bureau (PWRB) in Noumea to create a work plan to give the Office a mandate to work with. Work Plan Consultations were held with women, relevant stakeholders and interested persons as well as Government Ministries and officials, government institutions and the private sectors to seek their input on the 12 issues that were raised at the Beijing Conference 1995.Taken into account all that were discussed during the consultations and out of the 12 Beijing critical concerns, Nauru identified 10 as its priority, Health, Education & Training, Violence against Women, Women in Decision Making, Human Rights of Women, Women & Culture, Women & the Media, Women in Agriculture & Fisheries, Women & the Economy and Women & the Environment making 10 priority concerns that the women of Nauru see as issues that would hinder their advancement and development. The Nauru National Women s Plan of Action 1998-2004 was then submitted to Government for their endorsement and approval. In April 2004 a 2 days national meeting was convened to review the NNWPOA, to seek Nauru s input to the Commonwealth Plan of Action and prepare for Nauru s 7 th WAMM in May 2004/Fiji. From this Meeting 6 new and emerging issues were identified making 16 priority concerns for Nauru. The new and emerging issues identified were, Youth, Girl Child, Religion, Family & Community, Good Governance and Women in Sports. The revised Work-plan for 2005-2015 addressed ongoing implementation of national development goals for the advancement of women in Nauru including initiatives by NGOs and civil society whose efforts in the past have been fragmented. Goals and Objectives of the Nauru National Women s Plan of Action:
Is to advance and improve the quality of women s lives in Nauru. The WAD has a 5 member staff of, Director, Development Officer, Project Officer, Safe House Counsellor and Executive Secretary. There are 2 more persons to be recruited, an Assistant Safe House Counsellor and a SHED Project Coordinating Officer. SHED a set of acronyms meaning Self Help Ending Violence (men s behaviour change), is a training program targeting men to shed their violent behaviour and accept their violence. The SHED training program is for workers engaging in men s behaviour change to shed their abusive beliefs and violence. This is an intense 11 weeks training and done over 4 modules. The first module will start in the early week of July. The program can enhance the work of the Safe House Counsellors. The women in almost all the cases end up going back to their unhealthy and unsafe environment. Offering this service to the perpetrators will be a bonus for the work already on the ground. Nauru acceded to CEDAW in June 2011 a milestone achieved but WAD has still to do her CEDAW initial Report, we are more than hopeful to have the Report done and submitted before the year is out, with lightened load now with the 2 extra member staff to be recruited. Another achievement for Nauru is the devising of a Nauru National Women s Policy with assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and assistance also from the Australian Government and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. The Policy consultations began last year (2013) and the final outcome was done in late February 2014, back to back with on-going consultations with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the Australian Aid National Country Gender Action Plan. The Policy is for everyone to have an effective and truly sustainable Nauru, reflecting and taking into account the needs of everyone, women, men and young people. There are 6 Goals identified in the Women s Policy: Heightened participation of women in decision making and leadership in government and state owned enterprises. The Elimination of all forms of violence against women. Improved economic status of women, including workplace equality with men. Improved women s health (including reproductive health and rights) services. Improved and equitable participation in all levels of education by girls and women. A strengthened Women s Affairs Department and improved capacity of government departments to mainstream gender equality programs.
The Policy Paper given to Government was approved. Nauru Stock Take: The Nauru Stock-take process involved desk research combined with in-country semi structured interviews and focus groups. The stock-take took one week starting in late February to early March 2014. Six full interviews were conducted with line Ministries and Departments of Government. Some interviews were with individuals and some with groups. There are focused discussions undertaken to collect targeted views and information on topics like, media, statistics, finance, public prosecution and violence against women. Those interviewed were senior government officials at the Secretary or Deputy levels or their representatives who have direct responsibility for policy development and program implementation in their respective departments. Discussions also took place with 2 civil society representatives and a separate meeting was held with 2 development partner representatives and in depth discussions was held with the Women s Affairs Department. Australian Aid National Country Gender Action Plan: Another activity that was happening alongside was the Australian Aid National Country Gender Action Plan undertaken by AUS-Aid to support gender equality commitments. The key focus areas that AUS-Aid focuses on are: women s political participation and representation in decision making and women s economic empowerment and addressing and ending violence against women with which all are reflected in the Nauru National Women s Policy. The back to back process of activities and objectives do complement each other and support the implementation of the Nauru National Women s Policy. Nauru (WAD) is committed to meeting its gender equality commitments. For Nauru, talks with the Minister, AUS-Aid and WAD identified 2 key areas where AUS-Aid can focus and offer assistance with activities: Deployment of a full-time expatriate psychosocial counsellor at one of the Health facilities to provide counselling for men and women, boys and girls on domestic and social violence, alcohol, teen pregnancy and other issues that contribute to domestic and social violence here in Nauru. Roll out of a training package on domestic and social violence for health workers,(doctors and nurses) including referral pathways, identifying victims of violence and handling cases of domestic and social violence. Develop health worker protocols Establish a referral system between the hospital, schools, police and safe house Explore options for an expanded telephone counselling service. Explore options for violence prevention programs. Develop and roll out information campaign on violence including domestic violence and services available. Short- term Outcomes: Counsellor in place with a caseload Protocols for identifying and handling cases of violence in place Referral system in place Long-term Outcomes: An integrated system for preventing and handling cases of domestic violence is in place and operational in Nauru.
Women in Politics, Leadership and Decision Making: Activities: Training package for potential female candidates Practice parliament for women Mock parliament Partnership tool kits Civics education Tailoring package to Nauru context. Support from UNDP to provide the training Short-term Outcomes: Community awareness and civic education around the role of parliament Improved knowledge of women in parliamentary processes and political platforms demonstrated in the practice parliament. Nauruan parliamentary and representation work and is better able to use parliamentary mechanisms to raise gender equality issues. Long-term Outcomes: Increase the number of women candidates in future elections Change in community perceptions around the recognition of women in politics and leadership. Nauru parliament has improved mechanisms to effectively consider gender equality issues and engage with their communities on those issues. Electoral Act amended Nauruan women politically empowered. The WAD has 10 affiliated groups of women and men who provide the assistance needed in carrying out programs and projects to the people in the communities, they are the: Graduates from the Community Education Training Centre in Fiji (27) Graduates from the CEFE Training for Women in Business (WENA-31) Nauru National Women s Council (NNWC) Nauru Young Women s National Council (NYWNC) White Ribbon Male Champions (9) advocates for EVAW Community Leaders (16) Leaders from the 3 Churches, the Assembly of God, Congregational and the Catholic. Domestic Violence Unit (Police) National Domestic Violence Committee Nauru CEDAW Committee. A temporary shelter was initiated by the police and WAD in 2008 to house an I-Kiribati national and her 7 children who had been the victims of their father s abuses. The urgent need to find accommodation for the family was because she was a foreigner living in her husband s family home. The place was very small and there was no budget in place to see to the basic needs of this family. Assistance and support in regards to clothing, bedding and food came from donations from the people. The family stayed at the Shelter for a bit over 3 months, till it was safe for them to go back home.
Since then a Budget is in place to meet basic needs of those sheltered at the Eoag n Ratequo. In 2013 a new Safe House was refurbished and opened by His Excellency the President Hon. Sprent Dabwido, on 7 th March 2013 The Eoag n Ratequo has 6 air- conditioned rooms, 2 bathrooms a kitchen and 2 toilets 2 small office spaces for the Safe House Counsellors also an increase in Budget allocation to meet the basic needs of those at the Safe House. The newly established Women s Safe House namely Eoag n Ratequo (House to Strangers) offers Counselling Services and a special program of Building Families for Life to survivors at the Safe House and also in communities and on requests. The Launch of the White Ribbon Day was in 2009 and since then the 9 male champions advocating for Ending Violence against Women (EVAW) have been conducting awareness programs in communities around the districts. The 16 days prior to the 25 th November they would hold promotional talks through the Media as well as community outreach. This is an ongoing program which we found had some impact on communities especially men. The biggest achievement for WAD and Nauru as a whole is Nauru s accession to CEDAW The devised Nauru National Women s Policy Stock-take for Gender Mainstreaming Nauru s accession to CEDAW has prompted Government to include CEDAW elements in the National Sustainable Development Strategic Plans, also from source documents which include the Nauru National Women s Policy, Nauru Young Women s National Plan of Action, the Women s National Plan of Action, the Terms of Reference for the National Steering Committee on Domestic Violence and Government must take action in both the private and public sectors to eliminate discrimination against women and to introduce measures where it is required to achieve equality. The key gender issues in Nauru are related to women s unequal participation in society relative to men, the ways in which women and men benefit from development, and the need to promote advancement and equality across all sectors. Violence against Women: There is not enough legal protection available for victims of domestic violence and there is no standard policy or proper procedure for law enforcement officers on handling cases of domestic violence. Cases of domestic violence are increasing and women are disproportionately impacted by partner violence. The Safe House Counsellors as part of their campaign programs on EVAW, also conducted gender sensitising workshops in government, departments, and institutions and within communities.
Work is being done to replace the Queensland Criminal Code of 1899 The Government of Nauru is making efforts to raise awareness that violence against women is a crime and is unacceptable. Despite the efforts the majority of cases reported to police are withdrawn and only but a few get to have a day in court. There are no comprehensive baseline studies on the prevalence or severity of violence against women and children. Nauru is in its final stage of its 2014 UNFPA Health and Safety Study Survey using WHO methodology to document intimate partner violence. At the start the survey responses were good but till the questions in the survey content was shared around the island, women in the other communities declined to participate despite confidentiality protocols. The small size of the population and the lack of privacy in communities seem to have created peer pressure and stigma against reporting. Women in Decision Making and Leadership: There is no distinction between women and men to stand for Parliament but there are structural and cultural barriers to achieving equal representation. Women are seriously under- represented in political leadership. There is only one out of the 19 members of Parliament who is a woman and the second woman ever elected. While women are represented in the public service, the majority are concentrated in lower level positions. There is no sexual harassment policy in the public sector. Women face a lot of barriers that also prevent them from undertaking multiple roles. Women are primarily responsible for work in the home and for childcare. These multiple responsibilities are not fully acknowledged or supported through government policy and this makes it more difficult for women than men to devote the time required to high level posts. Women s Economic Status: Nauru does not have Employment Legislation apart from the Public Service Act 1998 about to be repealed and replaced. From major employers in Nauru, in 2005-2011 women comprised on average 46.7% of employees and in the public sector 2011 women dominated employment in the middle and bottom thirds of government salary scales and slightly below males in the top third of government salary scale. The economic situation in Nauru has been difficult for both women and men since the decline of the phosphate mining industry which was the source of revenue for the people. There are limited sources of employment, no banks on the island and very few financial services for women who wish to become entrepreneurs. In 2009 31 ladies graduated from a business training course facilitated by a Consultant from the Community Education Training Centre in Fiji through the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and a national coordinator. The women who graduated from the Competency based Economies through Formation of Entrepreneurs (CEFE) training had Business Plans drawn and assessed by experts from the Finance Department, Eigigu Holdings, CIE and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Due to the financial problems that Nauru faced, these Plans are still on the shelves.
Women s Health: Nauru is ranked as one to have the high rate of non- communicable disease, high rate of sexually transmitted infections and the second highest adolescent fertility rate in the Pacific. There is shortage of staff in the health-system and this slows down the delivery of health services and health campaigns making it difficult for women of all ages to be proactive about their health. Jadelle Implants was introduced for the first time in Nauru in 2012 with 40 clients taking up this new Family Planning Method. Report for September 2013 stated achievements: Zero rate of HIV infection Reduction of Chlamydia STI rate from 49% in July-December 2009 to less than 6% in 2011 and 2012 after mass treatment of population in 2011. Even though Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) is low in Nauru, the 2011 Rate of 11.2% is more than doubled that of 2010 which was 5.4% Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) per 1000 LB has decreased to 20.9 in 2011 Under 5 years Child Mortality Rate (CMR) also decreased to 23.6 in 2011. Total Fertility Rate 2011 was 4.2 Maternal Mortality is zero for 2011 and 2012. Percentage of deliveries conducted by trained personnel Average annual population growth rate (2006-2011) was 1.8%. Average Immunisation Coverage Rate 2011was 95.9% for infants 2 more local mid wives completed their training as midwives at the Fiji School of Nursing 2011-2012 Challenges: Trained staff finding other means of employment especially at the Refugee Processing Centre (more money) Lack of resources as most health activities are Donor funded. Problems with Internet and Communications A Reproductive Health Policy recently reviewed also covers Reproductive Health for Adolescents as well. Women and Education: Education is free in Nauru and compulsory from ages 5-18. Truancy rate is very high and parents are penalised for children frequently missing school. Penalties range from $50.00 up to $250.00. 99% of teachers are women and required a minimum qualification in Diploma of Teaching and to be registered. The 10 Schools in Nauru are all co-educational and follow the same curriculum regardless of gender. More girls drop out of school because of pregnancies and other reasons. There is no law that prevents young girls going back to school to continue their education if they are still within the compulsory age. Nauru s small economy and limited private sector limits job opportunities for young people. Many young people lack the basic literacy and numeracy that enable them to compete for the limited public and private sector jobs available. In the education system there is no gender disparity when measured by enrolment and completion rates. The only areas where girls and boys are segregated are in sports and sex
education classes but gender discrimination becomes clear only once students move into work experience and formal employment. Capacity Building for the Women s Affairs Department (WAD): Gender Equality: THE WAD for gender equality and women s empowerment is undermined by the lack of capacity and resources to effectively implement gender work plans. Domestic Violence is a serious issue in Nauru and very little is documented about it. Gender Equality is considered a new concept in Nauru and one that has largely been introduced by donors. Nauru acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Violence against Women (CEDAW) in June 2011. There has not been any substantial programs government or otherwise, promoting women s empowerment and gender equality in Nauru. There are factors which influences the enabling environment for gender equality here in Nauru. These include the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases and associated disability and a prevailing low level of technical capacity in government plus others. The overall technical capacity of WAD staff is limited and there is very little formal training in gender analysis and planning and gender equality understanding of women s issues were learned on the job. There has never been government sponsored training for WAD staff and the only training received are from short courses and workshops. Although Nauru has just revised its Public Service Act, which upholds equal pay and access to all government positions, there have been no further efforts by government to actively promote gender equality and women s empowerment in the public sector. Understanding of gender equality as a means to analyse gender development milestones was limited amongst all stakeholders however, the Nauru National Women s Policy and the Stock-take for Gender Mainstreaming will give WAD (Government) a more focused direction. Part of this Report were extracts taken from the Nauru National Women s Policy Nauru Stock-take Report Republic of Nauru Country Plan 2014-2016 Nauru Women s National Action Plan NO AVAILABLE DATA AT PRESENT