16 Days of Activism and EVAW

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Kaselehlia! Ran annim! Mogethin! Len wo!

(hello in Pohnpeian, Chuukese, Yapese, Kosraen)

The global colour for the 16 Days of Activism and EVAW is orange, with the slogan “Orange the world”. This has always had a dual meaning for me as a Dutch person, as orange is our national colour. So when a colleague told about the landmark trek of women and men, and I understand that even the US Ambassador joined, which was held every Thursday from May 14th to June 18th last year, which propagated the message “Black out violence against women”, I was very struck by this most powerful image.  This initiative started with just two men, but their numbers grew systematically so when they hit that finish line in June, the message echoed through the country: violence against women is a silent scourge of society that undermines the welfare of all of society. But not talking about it does not make it go away. This initiative is a stark reminder that the 16 Days is led by the people, for the people, and that we, the UN, are here to support you and your government to amplify your voices, and make sure that you are heard everywhere.

It is in this spirit that I would like to congratulate the FSM government for this important milestone of passing the FSM Policy for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG). There is no better time to launch this policy than today, when we commemorate the International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women and kickoff off the 16 Days of Activism to Eliminate Violence Against Women. It was only four days ago, this Monday, that I presented my credentials to President David Panuelo, as the first Representative for the UN Secretary General in Micronesia. As the Representative of the UN in FSM, I am particularly honored that my first address to the people of FSM is today, helping to raise awareness about this most crucial of socio-political issues, one that the entire UN stands united in the fight against, and that I am able to be part of this event to kick off 16 Days of Activism here in FSM. The UN stands with you all to “black out violence against women”.

As President Panuelo pointed out, almost one-third of ever-partnered Micronesian women have reportedly experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner at least once in their lifetime. The National Policy to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls 2021-2025, and the accompanying National and State Action Plans, respond to recommendations in both the mid-term CEDAW (2019) review and Universal Periodic Review (2021) to establish a comprehensive national policy to eliminate gender-based violence against women, with adequate resources for its implementation. This Policy aligns with the Federated States of Micronesia Strategic Development Plan 2004–2023 and the National Gender Policy 2018-2023, and supports the steps forward being made, in particular by the national women’s machinery notably the National Women’s Council and State Women’s Councils, to address gender-based violence. This national policy is the articulation of the sum of your voices. In addition to the research upon which the policy is based, it reflects the results of extensive consultations across all four states of FSM in March-April 2019 and was validated on November 5, 2021 by key national and state stakeholders.

Changing attitudes and human behavior can take generations. The National EVAWG Policy has a five-year timeline in recognition of the fact that achieving its lofty aims take time and resources.  It recognizes that GBV affects the entire population, from the survivor to the entire family, and thus demands a whole -of-society and whole-of government approach. Addressing GBV requires an integrated, coordinated approach that engages communities, clearly specifies responsibilities and accountabilities, and encourages and directs actions from the village to the island to the national levels. The Policy is grounded in a survivor-centered and rights-based approach; it provides a vision and outlines a coordinated approach to the elimination of VAWG across the FSM’s four states. It builds on FSM’s national, regional, and international GBV-related commitments and aligns with national development strategies and plans to strengthen access to safe and effective GBV response services as well as focus on mitigation and prevention. After all, when survivors’ services are needed, it is already too late. Ending violence entails the elimination of all forms of abuse, discrimination, harassment and VAWG in the work force as well as in private and public spheres. EVAW is never “private”, it is criminal. The policy applies to all women and girls in FSM, and accommodates the special requirements needed by women with disabilities, elderly women , those living in remote geographic locations with limited access to formal or informal services face specific vulnerabilities.

I join the President in recognising the commitment and dedication of the Department of Health and Social Affairs and the UN Agencies - UNFPA, UN Women, UNICEF – as well as the Human Rights and Social Development Division the Pacific Community that have partnered with the government, to finalise this important policy. Furthermore, I’d like to commend all the State Departments of Health Services, other Government Departments and local partners including the Chuuk Women’s Council, the Kosrae Youth Development Association, the Micronesia Red Cross Society, and the International Organization for Migration, as well as the dedication and commitment of other partners, including the women councils and other individual organizations, who contributed to the development of this policy. This extensive collaboration reflects the need for all sectors of society, all government and state departments, to work together to black out violence.   

This collaboration will be needed to turn this policy into concrete action that will eliminate violence against women. The endorsement of this policy is just the start. The policy is the signal for us– the government, civil society, the UN and all other partners – to collectively  grab our metaphorical walking shoes and trek across the entire FSM leaving a trail of blacked out violence in our wake.

Kalahngan, Kinisou Chapur, Kamagar, Kulo.