H.E Mr Ban ki Moon, first of all expressed his appreciation and thanked the Prime Minister for Tonga's support for his reappointment as Secretary General of the United Nations for another term of four years. He also congratulated Lord Tu'ivakano on his election as the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Tonga under the new system.
The UN Secretary General and the Prime Minister then discussed issues of mutual interest and of significance was Mr Ban Ki Moon's appeal for support towards the UN resolution on the Convention of the Eradication of Discrimination Against Women or CEDAW. To support the resolution, Lord Tu'ivakano pointed out that under the new structure of the Tongan government, as Prime Minister he has the liberty of appointing four independent members outside of Parliament to become members of his government. In following this procedure, he has appointed two Ministers who were not elected into Parliament, and one of which is a lady Minister, the Honourable Dr ‘Ana Taufe'ulungaki - Tonga's Minister of Education, Women and Culture. Lord Tu'ivakano further pointed out to the UN Secretary General that the integrity of women in Tonga is of high standing both in its cultural and social aspect. Women are regarded with supremacy in Tongan society, and that there was nothing in the Tongan culture that precluded women from decision making process within the family, the community and in government. However, there are several hindrances in the legal and constitutional structure of Tonga and will require time for adjustment if need be. This included land ownership and inheritance which required clear and concise guidelines if Tonga was to ratify CEDAW. However, Lord Tu'ivakano, pointed out that this did not mean that he did not support movements against the global exploitation of women especially towards cultures that warranted women to a secondary or inferior class in society and which was evident in many parts of the world today. The Prime Minister felt strongly about the efforts of the UN on CEDAW and knowing only too well that the problem was rooted in the cultures of many societies for decades and that it had now become a global phenomenon which if not addressed now could spread into vulnerable societies such as the developing world of which Tonga is a part of. He therefore assured his personal support for CEDAW to the Secretary General.
ENDSIssued by the: Prime Minister's Office, Nuku'alofa, 2011.
