Batch 3 – Free Write 3: CEDAW – The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women

During my internship in Tonga over summer, one came across for the very first time the United Nation’s treaty on the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). One morning as I was driving to work there were so many people scattering around the capital city. I wondered as to why there were so many people downtown this early morning. It was also so difficult with the early traffic rush plus these many people who walked the streets as I was maneuvering safely to get to the office. As soon as I got into the office, I asked around as to why there were so many people in downtown Nuku’alofa. I was informed that most of the people of Tonga are marching to the Royal Palace to petition Tonga signing the treaty of CEDAW. I had to Google on my phone what CEDAW was. This was my first encounter of this foreign treaty.

There were thousands and thousands of people marching the main street with their banners to include, church leaders, nobles of the realm, and children but the most petitioners were women. At first I was shocked to see that most of the marchers were women. Wasn’t this convention treaty about the elimination of discrimination against women? This was very surprising at first because I just couldn’t believe my eyes, that a treaty to eliminate discrimination against women and here they were the majority petitioning its abolishment.

I was also very shocked to see the numerous banners with their biblical quotations. I was very enticed with the women’s representation during this march and tried to comprehend their meaning behind being against CEDAW. These women representatives must had very good reasons for screaming out loud on the streets. The marchers were singing Free Wesleyan Church’s hymns throughout the entire marching. I found this to be extremely muddling that religious fundamentals were part of their escapade. I decided right there and then that I would be researching more on CEDAW in order to have a clear understanding of this United Nation’s treaty.

Tonga was represented by a few selected officials in the United Nations meeting in New York in April 2015 where they pledged that Tonga would rectified and signed the treaty of CEDAW. Tonga agreed in principle and this triggered the disappointments and uproar of the people that they were marching on the streets to their king to abolish this treaty. The King sided with the people and rejected CEDAW.

Tonga is one of the countries in the world that treated women higher than men because of its culture and their ways of life. Women are treated with highest dignity and honor and had been passed down from generation to generation. Perhaps this is the reason why women of Tonga were marching the streets because it is already in existence in its hierarchical system. This is contradicting because there is inequality with women’s representation in government, in churches and executive decision bodies of government. There is no women representation whatsoever in Privy Council, in Cabinet, in Parliament, in the Judiciary system, in any churches. Wouldn’t this be their opportunity to demand this form of discrimination? 

Reference: all pictures here from www.matangitonga.to

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