He says women must be included in decision-making and he has encouraged parishes to include more women in leadership roles, "especially in parish pastoral councils and finance committees".

Writing in the Fiji Times on International Women's Day, Chong said "I empathise and pray for women who are not able to enjoy these achievements.

"I speak on behalf of the Catholic social teaching and denounce societies, cultures and peoples that undermine the dignity and rights of women and particularly those that oppress women."

Chong said Fijian cultures (Itaukei, Hindu, Muslim, Chinese, Rotuman, Rabi etc.) should all promote the dignity of women and in some cases liberate women.

He noted that "most of our cultures and religions are patriarchal - dominated by men.

"Patriarchal society views men as the standard of human nature and that women are somehow different and inferior. A patriarchal society denies its people the contribution and wisdom of women."

Chong quoted Pope Francis, saying "A world where women are marginalised is a sterile world because women don't just bear life but transmit to us the ability to see otherwise, they see things differently."

He said the patriarchal view of women clashes with the biblical teaching that all human beings, male and female, are created in the image of God.

"As believers, we have to promote the biblical teachings on the equality of men and women and particularly affirm the dignity of women."

He said the biblical view of women "calls for a conversion in our religions, churches and cultures.

"We have to change the patriarchal views of society and recognise women as equally made in the image of God."

Source

• fijitimes.com
• Image: Facebook

This is in response to research conducted by the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre which suggests that 64 percent of Fijian women aged between 15 and 49 have experienced physical or sexual abuse meted out by their husbands or partners.

Break the Silence Sunday, an initiative of the Anglican church, was observed in Fiji's Methodist, Catholic, Baptist, Salvation Army, Orthodox churches and at some independent evangelical fellowships.

The message is also being carried on television.

On Sunday, Fiji's 6 pm news carried a 60-second video clip in which the leaders of these churches affirmed that male and female are created equal by God - and that violence against women and children "is a sin." Click here to watch the video.

The video will be rebroadcast during primetime news every night for the three weeks leading up to Human Rights Day on December 10.

And if viewers didn't get the message during the news hour, the video clip will then be re-screened four times later in the evening until December 10.

The video will also screen before every film showing in Suva's 10 Damodar movie theatres, in Lautoka's four theatres and in Nadi's two until December 10.

The proposal for Break the Silence Sunday originated from the Christian network Talanoa, an alliance of Fijian women's groups and churches convened by the House of Sarah - an organisation hosted by the Diocese of Polynesia that delivers a range of services designed to end violence against women and children.

In September last year, Archbishop Winston Halapua urged the various denominational leaders in the Fiji Council of Churches to observe their own "Break the Silence Sunday" - and he also proposed a video campaign.

He got 100 percent support for that too - and the Methodist Church of Fiji's Communication Department then set about producing the video and booking slots for it to be shown on TV and in the movie theatres.

While Break the Silence Sunday is a Fijian move, the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia also observed it in its Samoan, Tongan and American Samoan churches.

Source

• Anglican Taonga
• Fiji Times
• Image: YouTube

The Government of Samoa first invited Peace Corps to Samoa in 1967

In the 50 years since that time, over 2000 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Samoa

They have helped build the capacity of local teachers by serving in classrooms, working directly with students and supporting the professional development of teachers.

Former Peace Corps Director, Carrie Hessler-Radelet taught English at Paul VI College in Leulumoega from 1981 to 1983.

"At the end of the day, what we're really trying to do through development is unleash the incredible power that each person has to contribute to this world." she says.

Countless Samoans have adopted Peace Corps Volunteers into their families, treating them as their own, loving them and caring for them.

They have helped the volunteers to learn about the traditions and culture of Samoa and have ensured the volunteers experience the generosity of the Samoan spirit.

During her visit to Samoa in 2015 Hessler-Radelet was able to catch up with her host family. (see photograph).

"Reunited with my host mother, Losa, after all these years! Her warm smile is still contagious," she said.

Hessler-Radelet's host father, Viane, was a farmer. There were 9 children in the family.

One of her host sisters, Roselia, was only 11 when Hessler-Radelet returned to the USA.
Roselia went on to become a lawyer.

She attributes her success to the love of her parents and her father's support for her education.

Source

• peacecorps.gov
• talamua.com
• peacecorps.gov
• Image: peacecorps.gov

A total of 10823 cases of domestic violence have been reported to the Fiji Women's Crisis Centres across the country from January to October this year.

On Sunday churches marked "On Break the Silence Sunday", FCC member churches focused their attention on these issues through liturgy prayers, scripture readings and sermons.

"It is important that we not only address the sin of gender-based violence and child abuse within our church community, but as faith leaders we speak with one voice in condemning it and calling for our communities and homes to be safe," Fiji Council of Churches president Reverend Tevita Banivanua said.

Head of the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia Archbishop Reverend Dr Winston Halapua shared similar sentiments and outlined the importance of the initiative. "What a privilege it is to be a part of this initiative which is what I call a deeper level of life."

This FCC campaign also includes, for the first time, a commercial for television and cinema that features church leaders speaking out against gender-based-violence and violence against children.

This year's theme is "From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World - Make Education Safe for All". The theme recognises that girls and young women in most societies still face severe challenge of accessing education.

In the pursuit of gaining an education, girls and women are still vulnerable to discriminatory practices, abuse, attacks and harassment.

The campaign spans 16 Days in order to highlight the links between ending gender-based violence and human rights values and that gender based violence is an international human rights violation.
Source

• fijitimes.com
• fijione.tv
• fijitimes.com
• angmissions.org.nz
• Image: fijione.tv

King Tupou VI, with his Privy Council, was responding to petitions from groups in Tonga who have sought his help to stop the ratification process.

The Government has committed to ratify CEDAW but has put this on hold until after this week's coronation of Tupou VI.

The King, in a statement, says he wants to acknowledge the concerns of 13,048 of his subjects who have sent eight petitions to him.

The statement says the Privy Council is not persuaded that the process followed by the Government is in accord with the constitution.

It says the Council has not authorised ministers to sign the document.

In May a 15,000-signature petition has been handed to the palace requesting that the Tongan king stop the government from ratifying CEDAW.

There already had been multiple petitions handed to parliament and a parliamentary resolution opposing the ratification of CEDAW.

Those who oppose the ratification of CEDAW have expressed concern that it will allow same sex marriage and abortion.

At the time a church representative Father Selwyn 'Akau'ola, said the request has been made for royal intervention as the government seems intent on going ahead with the move.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• 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

Joanna Spratt is a PhD candidate at the Australian National University's Crawford School of Public Policy. She says governments need to start looking at reforming highly-restrictive legislation.

Ms Spratt hopes the Pacific will make progress towards decriminalization and providing safe access to abortion. Listen to interview on ABC