Women in Tuvalu

Women in Tuvalu continue to maintain a traditional Polynesian culture within a predominantly Christian society. Tuvaluan cultural identity is sustained through an individual's connection to their home island.^[1] In the traditional community system in Tuvalu, each family has its own task, or salanga, to perform for the community. The skills of a family are passed on from parents to children. The women of Tuvalu participate in the traditional music of Tuvalu and in the creation of the art of Tuvalu including using cowrie and other shells in traditional handicrafts. There are opportunities of further education and paid employment with non-government organisations (NGOs) and government enterprises, education and health agencies being the primary opportunities for Tuvaluan women.^[2]

The number of women holding positions of Assistant Secretaries in government departments has increased from 20% in 2012 to nearly 50% in 2014. Also at the nine Island Kaupule (Local Councils) the representation of women has increased from 1 in 2012 to 3 in 2014.^[3]

With regard to the judiciary, "the first female Island Court magistrate was appointed to the Island Court in Nanumea in the 1980s and another in Nukulaelae in the early 1990s." There were 7 female magistrates in the Island Courts of Tuvalu (as of 2007) in comparison "to the past where only one woman magistrate served in the Magistrate Court of Tuvalu."^[4]

^ Corlew, Laura (2012). "The cultural impacts of climate change: sense of place and sense of community in Tuvalu, a country threatened by sea level rise" (PDF). Ph D dissertation, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
^ Resture, Jane (6 October 2022). "Tuvalu Women - A Contribution To Development". Janeresture.com. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
^ "Tuvalu Statement 3rd & 4th Periodic Review at the 60th Session of the UN CEDAW Expert Committee On the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Geneva" (PDF). Government of Tuvalu. 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
^ Susie Saitala Kofe & Fakavae Taomia (2007). "Advancing Women's Political Participation in Tuvalu" (PDF). report 5: A Research Project Commissioned by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS). Retrieved 27 January 2024.

[LC12-1] Corlew, Laura (2012). "The cultural impacts of climate change: sense of place and sense of community in Tuvalu, a country threatened by sea level rise" (PDF). Ph D dissertation, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Retrieved 11 September 2016.

[JR-TW-2] Resture, Jane (6 October 2022). "Tuvalu Women - A Contribution To Development". Janeresture.com. Retrieved 3 December 2023.

[CEDAW-3] "Tuvalu Statement 3rd & 4th Periodic Review at the 60th Session of the UN CEDAW Expert Committee On the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Geneva" (PDF). Government of Tuvalu. 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2017.

[SSK-4] Susie Saitala Kofe & Fakavae Taomia (2007). "Advancing Women's Political Participation in Tuvalu" (PDF). report 5: A Research Project Commissioned by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS). Retrieved 27 January 2024.

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