The University of the South Pacific (USP) students were fortunate to be part of the milestone Pacific Technical Cooperation Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) earlier this month.
The landmark event, held from 7-11 April, marked the first time the full CEDAW Committee convened in the Pacific region, signifying a major milestone in regional efforts to advance gender equality and uphold women’s rights.
The Pacific Technical Cooperation Session of the CEDAW Committee is hosted by the Government of Fiji and jointly organised by the CEDAW Committee, the Pacific Community (SPC), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Women, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), and The University of the South Pacific (USP).
As part of the event, USP hosted talanoa (discussion) sessions on key thematic areas on 7-8 April at the Japan-Pacific ICT Centre at the Laucala Campus in Suva. Attendees included the CEDAW committee, government representatives, civil society organisations, women’s rights advocates, students and supporters.
Amongst the crowd at the lecture theatre were USP students, Yvonne Ravula and Mele Tu’uakitau, a final-year Bachelor of Arts (Journalism and Language and Literature) student.
Ravula, who is a final-year Law student, shared how they were deeply impacted by the conversations and insights shared throughout the event.
“As someone who grew up with strong cultural and religious values, it was powerful to hear that we don’t have to oppose feminism. Hearing a reverend support gender equality really opened my eyes,” Ravula noted.
She now plans to share this knowledge and challenge stereotypes in her community.
“I’ll be having more honest conversations with my friends and church group. Gender equality starts with awareness, and I feel more confident starting those talks now.”
Tu’uakitau, who hails from the island of Tonga, spoke about how the event reshaped her understanding of CEDAW.
“I used to think CEDAW was just about politics, but now I see how it connects to everyday struggles of girls and women.”
She also stressed the need for early advocacy. “We need to start with young girls – that’s where real change begins,” she said.
Inspired by her work with the Talitha Project in Tonga, she also planned to organise awareness gatherings in her village, especially with schoolgirls and church groups.
“We often wait for formal workshops, but I believe just sitting with my family or youth group and explaining what CEDAW means can spark important change. I want to make it real and relatable for them,” she added.
The two-day talanoa discussions created a culturally grounded platform for diverse voices to share lived experiences and propose solutions.
The CEDAW-led sessions addressed key gender issues in the Pacific, including culture and gender, youth engagement, harmful stereotypes, women’s political participation, disability inclusion, and integrating gender in climate action.
The week-long Pacific Technical Cooperation Session included country exchanges with the CEDAW Committee by Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu and various bilateral meetings to discuss implementation and ratification.
The official launch and other high-level meetings were hosted at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).
