PHOTO: Protesters march from the Basilica of St Anthony Padua to parliament in protest against government’s move to sign CEDAW. Photo/Supplied
The Tongan government has vowed to stand firm over its move to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women despite protests staged by church members in Nuku’alofa this week.
Known as CEDAW, the government declared it has passed a resolution to ratify it in March and announced it has processed the signatory with the United Nations office.
Of the 189 countries in the world which ratified CEDAW, Tonga is one of seven countries, which includes the United States, not to have signed the convention.
Hundreds marched up to the royal palace in Nukuʻalofa this afternoon and submitted a petition asking the king to intervene with government’s move to sign CEDAW.
The march came after a protest march was staged on Wednesday in protest against the United Nations’ convention.
The marchers submitted a petition to the Speaker of the House saying the convention would ease Christianity’s opposition to same sex marriage and abortion.
Majority of the marchers were women and Christian church members.
The government believed protesters have been misinformed on CEDAW and that there was lack of education in Tonga about the convention.
The government said work was under way to translate CEDAW’s articles and relevant information into Tongan and they would be made available to the public shortly.
Tonga’s Public Service Association claimed the marches led by some church leaders were politically motivated by those who dislike the government.
Tonga’s Minister of Internal Affairs was quoted by Radio New Zealand International as saying “I just talked to the CEO and told him that they have to print the Tongan version of the CEDAW in the paper next week and also with some FAQs, (frequently asked questions), of CEDAW because I think a lot of people in Tonga still don’t understand what CEDAW is about.”
The minister told the radio the government listened to protesters but it has to do its best for the nation as a whole.
