June 2012: The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) have released a policy brief on gender policy, targeting Pacific delegates to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio +20). The brief seeks to ensure that delegates take into consideration gender equality commitments made at the regional and international levels.

Titled “Rio+20: Important issues for Pacific Island women,” the brief includes sections on: the gender perspective on the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development; gender equality commitments; and a gender perspective on the post-2015 development framework.

Additional recommendations address, inter alia: gender-responsive financing and governance; the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); building resilience of women and men to impacts of climate change; rights to land, marine resources, water, services and social protection; livelihood impacts of deep sea mining; indigenous rights; and clean and renewable energy and gender-responsive energy policies. [Publication: Rio+20: Important issues for Pacific Island Women]