SAMOA Reforming Macro-level Policy Framework to meet Women and Girls Needs Closing the Gender Gap Through Innovative Service Delivery 24 June 2015 Medellin Colombia
Samoa Brief Overview National Performance on MDGs & Recent and Ongoing Developments Lessons Poem Thank you Outline
Samoa Overview Small Island Developing State in Pacific located halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand Population 186,000 (2011) Land Area 2849 sq km 2 Governance Systems Westminister type Parliamentary Democracy & Traditional Cultural System - Fa amatai Graduated from LDC status in 2014 Most politically and economically stable in region BUT Face SIDS constraints (size, isolation, narrow economic base, vulnerability) obstacle to post 2015 /SDG progress Hosted 2014 UN Conference on SIDs SAMOA Pathway document
MDGs National Results MDG 1 : Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger - Achieved MDG 2 Achieve universal primary education Not achieved but substantial progress made with ; Compulsory Education Act 2009 Government School Fees Scheme 2010 Recent/ Ongoing developments : Child Care and Protection Bill 2015
MDG 3 : Promote Gender Equality and empower women NOT ACHIEVED. Priority challenges Womens participation in macro-level decisionmaking/governance Sexual and domestic violence Economic empowerment.
Recent developments 2013 Constitutional Amendment introduces a quota of 10% of Parliament seats for women. Will be implemented in 2016 national elections Samoan Women Shaping Development Program (2013-2018) AusAid Funded - Supported by UN Women and UNDP 4 Areas of Focus (i) Increasing Political Participation of Women Public education and outreach program Work with Political Parties Capacity building for Women Candidates Mentoring and support for Women MPs post elections
Recent developments SWSD Program Contd (ii) Reduce violence against women and girls (iii)increase women s economic empowerment (iv) Improve women s health Family Violence Act 2013 holistic approach to addressing family violence Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013 improved working conditions for women National Human Rights Institute established 2014 independently monitor and promote HRs in Samoa
Recent Developments Other pro-gender equality legislative amendments (Crimes Act 2013, Marriage Act Amendments 2013, Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act 2012) Village Fono Amendment Bill 2015 recognises the authority of Village councils, ability to make by-laws which are to be in line with Constitution, other laws including international conventions that Samoa is a party to e.g. CEDAW, CRC, Disability Reviewing National Policy for Women and Plan of Action 2010-2015 2014 GoS/GoA - Commissioned major research into Womens Participation in Governance and decision-making to inform way forward
MDGs National Results MDG 4 : Reduce child mortality Achieved MDG 5 : Improve maternal health Achieved MDG 6 : Combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases Achieved but have other priority health challenges NCDs and STIs/STDs MDG 7 Ensure environmental sustainability Not achieved challenges - high vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters MDG 8 : Develop a global partnership for development Not achieved
LESSONS Strong national leadership, ownership and good governance is critical SIDS (including Samoa) at different stages of development thus need tailor-made responses but many commonalities also where joint efforts are critical Understanding own local context and challenges is vital Partnerships are critical as no country/entity can achieve desired outcomes unaided, however some need more help than others Acknowledge that we are all of our own time/circumstances however these can be platforms to build upon Biggest and priority challenge in improving gender equality is changing mindsets, attitudes, behaviours complex and long term but change whose time has come - powerful
Poem by H.E. Lemalu Tate Simi IDENTITY
UN Women UNDESA Government of Colombia THANK YOU