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The Pacific Women's Bureau

The Pacific Women's Bureau works with Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to promote gender equality so that Pacific women enjoy the same opportunities as men.  Its primary reference sources are international and regional instruments and declarations on women’s rights and development.

The top priority of the PWB is to assist the efforts of the PICTs and regional organisations to improve the status of women through the implementation of the PPA and CEDAW. The Bureau  also promotes the ratification of CEDAW throughout the region and will help parties that have ratified to fulfil their monitoring and reporting obligations.

PWB's Mandate

SPC’s governing bodies, the Conference of the Pacific Community and the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA), provide the mandate for the Women’s Bureau and set its key directions.

The Bureau considers that the advancement of women and progress towards gender equality are mutually reinforcing and require an integrated approach at regional and national levels. It works with governments and civil society to achieve this approach.

The full participation of women in society is a whole-of-government responsibility. Through its team leader and assisted by the Women's Development Officer, the Bureau provides technical advice to help ministries and departments conduct gender analyses, mainstream gender in their policies, plans and programmes, and monitor and evaluate them from a gender perspective.

The Bureau works with PICT governments and civil society to remove structural and policy impediments to the advancement of women. Based on wide consultation, it  lobbies for relevant changes to legislation and policies, as well as for new legislation and policies that guarantee appropriate rights and protection to women. The Bureau  also helps build the capacity of government national machineries so that they can work efficiently and effectively.

Historical Background

SPC recognises the vital role of women in sustainable development and is committed to gender and women’s issues and concerns. In 1982, it established the Bureau to promote women’s development activities throughout the region.

When the PWB was established it was the single regional focal point for women’s issues. Today a number of multilateral and regional agencies and bilateral donors focus to some degree on women’s issues. As the regional co-ordinating agency for the PPA, the Bureau works to minimise duplication by aligning the various activities of these agencies with regional and national priorities.

The role of Media

The media, in their various forms, remain an important tool for communicating issues, concerns and actions from the perspective of women. The PWB’s communications officer works to  increase women’s access to the media and new technologies of communication. The Communications Officers also works with media professionals to promote a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in the media.