Stocktake of the Gender Sustainable Pacific development through science, Mainstreaming Capacity of knowledge and innovation Pacific Island Governments Republic of Palau Pacific Community | [email protected] | www.spc.int Headquarters: Noumea, New Caledonia Stocktake of the Gender Mainstreaming Capacity of Pacific Island Governments Republic of Palau Produced by The Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, Government of the Republic of Palau and Ann Hillmann Kitalong, The Environment Inc. Noumea, New Caledonia, 2016 © Pacific Community (SPC) 2016 All rights for commercial/for profit reproduction or translation, in any form, reserved. SPC authorises the partial reproduction or translation of this material for scientific, educational or research purposes, provided that SPC and the source document are properly acknowledged. Permission to reproduce the document and/or translate in whole, in any form, whether for commercial/for profit or non-profit purposes, must be requested in writing. Original SPC artwork may not be altered or separately published without permission. Original text: English Pacific Community Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Stocktake of the Gender Mainstreaming Capacity of Pacific Island Governments: Republic of Palau / produced by The Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, Government of the Republic of Palau, and Ann Hillmann Kitalong, The Environment Inc. 1. Gender — Oceania. 2. Gender mainstreaming — Oceania. 3. Gender Identity — Oceania — Statistics. 4. Oceania — Sex differences — Statistics. 5. Women — Oceania — Statistics. 6. Men — Oceania — Statistics. I. Palau. Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs II. Hillmann Kitalong, Ann III. Title IV. Pacific Community 305. 30995 AACR2 ISBN: 978-982-00-0991-2 Prepared for publication at SPC’s Noumea Headquarters BP D5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia, 2016 www.spc.int Acknowledgments Many people contributed to the oversight, research, information and writing of this report. The Government of the Republic of Palau wishes to thank all people involved who have taken part in the stocktake and for the open and constructive participation of so many of its agents in the research stages. The openness of a government to institutional review and analysis, and its willingness to implement change based on that analysis, are critical first steps in continually improving governance and development processes for the benefit of a country and its citizens. For their important insights, we wish to acknowledge the members of civil society and donor and development partners based in Palau who participated in interviews and focus group discussions. The primary government focal points were the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, especially Minister Baklai Temengil; Ann Singeo, former head of the Bureau of Aging and Gender; Hila Asanuma, Chief, Division of Multilateral Affairs, Bureau of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of State; Faustina K. Rehuher- Marugg, former Minister for MCAA; Dilmei Olkeriil, Ambassador to the Republic of China and former Minister for MCAA; and Meked Besebes, Cultural Anthropologist/Ethnographer, Bureau of Arts and Culture, MCAA. Other women who were engaged in this stocktake report were Risong Tarkong and Holly Yamada, Ministry of State; Dr Isebong Asang, former Professor at Palau Community College; Goretti Masayos and Roberta Louch, Ekei Women's Association; Nancy Wong, private business; Elecita Morei, former principal of Mindszenty High School; Uroi Salii, Director of Finance, Palau Community College; Lolita Gibbons-Decherong, Program Manager Conservation and Protected Areas, Palau Conservation Society; Umai Basilius, Policy and Planning Program Manager, Palau Conservation Society; Pia Morei, Director of the Belau National Museum; Charlene Mersai, National Environmental Planner, Office of Environmental Response and Coordination (OERC); Kiblas Soaladaob, National Coordinator, Palau GEF Small Grants Program; Sharon Sakuma, Country Development Manager, UN Joint Presence, Palau; Tarita Holm, Consultant with OERC; Sylvia Kloulubak, Bureau of Arts and Culture; Sunny Ngirmang, Director, Bureau of Arts and Culture; Calvin Emesiochel, Bureau of Arts and Culture; Erbai Xavier Matsutaro, OERC; Kloudil Singeo, PhD candidate, University of Hawaii; and Beronica Bingkelang, Adult High School at Palau Community College. Special thanks to the Pacific Community for their technical support. Financial and technical support was provided by UN Women. iii Disclaimer This report has been prepared by the consultant, Ann Hillmann Kitalong, of The Environment Inc, for the Government of the Republic of Palau and the Pacific Community (SPC). The report includes the views and recommendations of the consultant and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of the Republic of Palau or SPC, or indicate a commitment to a particular policy or action. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the material in this report, the Government of the Republic of Palau and SPC cannot guarantee that the information contained in the report is free from errors or omissions. The Government of the Republic of Palau and SPC do not accept any liability, contractual or otherwise, for the contents of this report or for any consequences arising from its use. iv Abbreviations BoAG Bureau of Aging and Gender CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child CRPD International Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities HRC Human Rights Committee MOH Ministry of Health MDG Millennium Development Goal NCD non-communicable disease PALARIS Palau Automated Land and Resources Information System PNC Palau National Code PPA Pacific Platform for Action ROP Republic of Palau SIUL Institute for Sustainable Living SPC the Pacific Community UAK Ulkerreuil A Klengar UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNIFEM United Nations Development Fund for Women, now UN Women WHO World Health Organization v Contents Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................................... iii Disclaimer .................................................................................................................................................... iv Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................... v Contents ...................................................................................................................................................... vi Executive summary ...................................................................................................................................... 1 I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 2 II. OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................... 5 III. COUNTRY OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................................. 7 1. Facts and figures ................................................................................................................................... 7 2. Map of Palau: ....................................................................................................................................... 8 IV. KEY GENDER ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................... 9 1. Land ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 2. Health ................................................................................................................................................... 9 a. Maternal mortality ........................................................................................................................... 9 b. Sexually transmitted diseases ........................................................................................................ 10 c. Non-communicable diseases .......................................................................................................... 10 d. Shared responsibility of care giving ................................................................................................ 10 3. Violence against women .................................................................................................................... 11 a. Family health survey ....................................................................................................................... 11 b. Human trafficking ........................................................................................................................... 11 4. Education ............................................................................................................................................ 12 5. Employment ....................................................................................................................................... 12 6. Poverty ............................................................................................................................................... 13 7. Decision-making ................................................................................................................................