ISO: TON
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The electronic version of this document has been prepared at the Fourth
World Conference on Women by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
in collaboration with the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women
Secretariat.
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AS WRITTEN


ADDRESS BY Her Majesty QUEEN HALAEVALU MATA'AHO OF TONGA
to the FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN,
Beijing, China.  7 September 1995.


MADAME CHAIRLADY,
YOUR MAJESTY
YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES
YOUR EXCELLENCIES,
AND DISTINGUISHED OFFICIALS:

AS IT BEFITS THE WORLD TRANSFORMING VISIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS, THE
INDISPENSABLE SUPPORT OF THE WORLD GOVERNMENTS, THE MOST GRACIOUS HOSTING
OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AND THE MOUNTAIN MOVING FAITH OF THE
WOMEN OF THE WORLD. IT IS INDEED MY HONOR TO ACCORD THEM ALL THE HIGHEST
TRIBUTE WHICH IS THEIR DUE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL, AND MAY I ADD THE WARMEST GREETINGS FROM THE
SOUTH PACIFIC KINGDOM OF TONGA AND OUR HUMBLE PRAYERS FOR A PEACEFUL AND
SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE.

THE CONVENING OF THIS WORLD FORUM FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN, AND ITS
ATTENDANCE BY MOST OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD, MARKS THE LATEST
GLOBAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, EVEN WITH ITS NUMEROUS RESERVATIONS, THAT THE
STATUS AND LIVES OF WOMEN ARE STILL LOWER THAN THOSE OF MEN. SIMILARLY,
IT ALSO CONFIRMS THAT THERE IS GLOBAL CONSENSUS THAT IT IS WRONG FOR ONE
GENDER TO BE LOWER OR SUBSERVIENT TO THE OTHER, AND THAT THIS CENTURIES
OLD INEQUALITY MUST BE URGENTLY REMEDIED.

THE FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSES OF THIS CONFERENCE ARE THEREFORE:

(1) TO HIGHLIGHT THE INJUSTICES OF THE LOWER STATUS OF WOMEN TO MEN.

(2) TO HIGHLIGHT THE ENORMOUS AND UNPRODUCTIVE TOLL OF THESE INJUSTICES
ON WOMEN AND ON THE WHOLE OF SOCIETY.

(3) TO FORMULATE PRACTICAL SUSTAINABLE, AND SOCIETY-FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS TO
THESE PROBLEMS.

INEVITABLY, AND UNDERSTANDABLY, IT IS THE FIRST OF THESE OBJECTIVES WHICH
CONTINUES TO RECEIVE THE HIGHEST PUBLICITY. AS SUCH, IT REQUIRES NO
FURTHER REPETITION, EXCEPT PERHAPS ONLY FOR THE SAKE OF THE DWINDLING
MINORITY AMONG US, WHO MAY STILL REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT BONDAGE BY VIRTUE
OF ONE’S GENDER IS ANATHEMA TO BOTH HUMAN AND DIVINE JUSTICE.

THE SITUATION IN THE KINGDOM OF TONGA, MAY CAST SOME USEFUL LIGHT UPON
THIS CENTURIES' OLD ISSUE IN TONGA WE HAVE THE UNUSUAL SITUATION OF A
TRADITIONAL GENDER BALANCE, UPON WHICH HAS BEEN SUPER-IMPOSED AN IMPROVED
GENDER IMBALANCE.

IN TONGAN TRADITION, MEN, AS THE CHIEF PROVIDERS AND PROTECTORS OF
FAMILIES, ARE THE FAMILY HEADS, LAND OWNERS AND POLITICAL LEADERS, HENCE
THEY ARE HIGHER THAN THEIR WIVES. WITHIN THIS PROTECTED SOCIETY, HOWEVER,
THE SISTERS ARE SUPERIOR TO THEIR BROTHERS. THIS MEANS HAT THEY ALSO
OUTRANK THEIR BROTHER’S WIVES AND THEIR CHILDREN, AS WELL AS THEIR
MOTHER’S BROTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN. THUS, WHEN BROTHERS BECOME MORE
SUCCESSFUL, IT IS THEIR SISTERS WHO BECOME MORE POWERFUL.

AS IS EVIDENT HERE THERE IS GENDER BALANCE OR EQUALITY AS HUSBANDS, THE
MEN ARE HIGHER THAN THE WOMEN. BUT AS SISTERS, THE WOMEN ARE SUPERIOR TO
THE MEN.

HOWEVER, WHEN WESTERN EDUCATION WAS INTRODUCED TO TONGA IN THE 19TH
CENTURY, THE FIRST SCHOOLS WERE ONLY FOR MALES. THIS MEANT THAT THE MEN
WERE THE FIRST TO RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT AND ITS ACCOMPANYING
BENEFITS. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE IMPORTED GENDER IMBALANCE IN
EMPLOYMENT AND LEADERSHIP ROLES, WHICH HAS LASTED FOR ABOUT A CENTURY.
THE CRITICAL QUESTION FOR TONGA WAS “WHICH OF THE TWO GENDER CONCEPTS
WOULD ULTIMATELY TRIUMPH?"

THE ANSWER TO THIS RIDDLE BECAME EVIDENT IN THE EARLY 1990'S. BY THEN,
THE PERCENTAGE OF FEMALES WHO HAD COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOLS, GRADUATED FROM
UNIVERSITIES, AND ENTERED ADMINISTRATIVE JOBS AND PROFESSIONS, HAD
OUTSTRIPPED THAT OF MALES

TODAY, AT LEAST 50% OF THE MIDDLE RANKING EXECUTIVES ARE WOMEN. THIS
MEANS THAT, WITHIN THE NEXT TEN YEARS, WOMEN WILL HOLD THE SAME
PERCENTAGE OF LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AS MEN.

THE MORAL OF THIS STORY, OF COURSE IS NEVER TO RIG A GENDER RACE AGAINST
TONGAN WOMEN

AS IS EVIDENT HERE, GENDER IMBALANCE OR INEQUALITY IS NOT REALLY AN ISSUE
FOR TONGAN WOMEN. IN FACT, GIVEN THE ALL PERVADING MANIFESTATION OF THE
SISTERS' SUPERIORITY OVER THEIR BROTHERS, IT MAY BE A REAL ISSUE FOR
TONGAN MEN! FOR AS ONE YOUNG MAN DID FORLORNLY PLEAD AT A RECENT YOUTH
SEMINAR IN TONGA, “WHEN WILL TONGAN MEN BE LIBERATED FROM TONGAN WOMEN?
WILL SUCH A DAY EVER COME?"

SINCE ANTIQUITY AND AS FIRMLY REITERATED BY THE WOMEN OF TONGA THROUGHOUT
OUR PREPARATIONS FOR BEIJING, THEIR PRIORITY ISSUE IS “THE FAMILY”. THE
REASON FOR THIS IS THEIR CONVICTION THAT THE WELFARE OF THE FAMILY, EVEN
WITH ALL OF ITS LIMITATIONS, IS THE MASTER KEY TO THE WELLBEING OF ALL
NATIONS. THIS IS WHAT THE WOMEN OF TONGA DEARLY ASPIRE TO. AND THEY DO SO
BECAUSE OF THEIR DEEP-SEATED CONVICTION THAT THE TOTAL WELLBEING OF A
SOCIETY IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL.

THAT THE FAMILY IS THE CENTER OF GRAVITY FOR A NATION NEEDS LITTLE
VERIFICATION. SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT IT IS THE ROOT OF THE HUMAN RACE AND
THE NURTURER OF HUMAN LIFE. FLOWING FROM THESE IT IS ALSO THE PRINCIPAL
PROVIDER FOR SOCIETIES PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SECURITY NEEDS, AND IS
THE ARCHITECT OF THEIR CULTURAL IDENTITY AND CODES OF MORALITY.

WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THIS FAMILY FOCUS, THE WOMEN OF TONGA ALSO FIRMLY
BELIEVE THAT, AS MOTHERS AND WIVES, WOMEN ARE THE BASIC HOMEMAKERS FOR
THE HUMAN RACE. THIS BELIEF, HOWEVER, IS NOT INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE
EQUALLY LEGITIMATE BELIEF THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE AS WELL EDUCATED AND AS
FREE TO BE EMPLOYED AS MEN.

WITHIN THE CENTER OF THIS FAMILY FOCUS, THE WOMEN OF TONGA ALSO FIRMLY
BELIEVE THAT AS THE BIOLOGICAL NURTURERS OF HUMAN LIFE, AND ENDOWED WITH
THEIR ASSOCIATED ATTRIBUTES, WOMEN ARE THE NATURAL AND INDISPENSABLE
HOMEMAKERS OF THE HUMAN RACE

GIVEN THE UNDISPUTED CENTRALITY OF FAMILY LIFE TO THE WELL BEING OF HUMAN
SOCIETY, AND THE INEVITABLE SEVERITY AND LONGEVITY OF THE DAMAGES CAUSED
BY DEFECTIVE FAMILY LIFE TONGAN WOMEN HAVE CLUNG TENACIOUSLY TO THE
FAMILY AS THEIR PRIORITY.

AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, TONGAN WOMEN ARE ALSO EQUALLY CONVINCED THAT
FEMALES LIKE MALES, ALSO DESERVE THE BEST EDUCATION AND CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES. WHAT IS CRUCIAL TO NOTE HERE IS THAT THEY PERCEIVE BOTH
GOOD MOTHERHOOD AND GOOD CAREERS AS COMPATIBLE

IN THEIR VIEW FEMALES MAY UNDERTAKE WHATEVER ROLES THEY ASPIRE TO, BUT
THEY MUST NEVER RELINQUISH OR DOWNGRADE THEIR FAMILY ROLES. AS THIS
AUGUST GATHERING IS AWARE, SUCCESSFUL CAREERS CANNOT SUBSTITUTE FOR HAPPY
HOMES, AND LUCRATIVE PROFESSIONS CANNOT BE SUBSTITUTE PARENTS FOR OUR
CHILDREN.

WHERE THESE DISCREPANCIES OCCUR, AS IS INCREASINGLY PREVALENT IN THE
WORLD TODAY, THE RESULTANT HEARTACHES AND SOCIAL CRISES NEGATE THE
BENEFIT OF OUR OTHER ROLES. THEIR TOIL CAN BE ECONOMICALLY DESTRUCTIVE
AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY DEVASTATING.

THE REAL CHALLENGE, THEREFORE, FOR MODERN WOMEN, GOVERNMENTS AND
SOCIETIES, IS TO FIND APPROPRIATE STRATEGIES FOR FACILITATING THIS.
NATIONS MUST EMPLOY THEIR BEST MINDS AND RESOURCES TO FIND THE SOLUTIONS
WHICH WE NEED.

THIS BRINGS ME TO OUR NEXT CRUCIAL ISSUE, AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH
OUR PERSPECTIVES OF SOCIAL MANAGEMENT. MOST OF US STILL SUFFER FROM THE
BURDENS AND LIMITATIONS OF CLINGING TO A CURATIVE PERSPECTIVE, WHICH
DRAIN OUR RESOURCES. WE MUST ADOPT THE MORE RATIONAL AND LESS EXPENSIVE
CONCEPT OF PREVENTATIVE SOCIAL MANAGEMENT. WE APPLY THIS TO OUR HEALTH
MANAGEMENT, SO WHY NOT SOCIAL MANAGEMENT?

THIS SHIFT OF PERSPECTIVE MEANS, THAT GOVERNMENTS MUST ALSO DIRECTLY
SOURCE, BOTH FINANCIALLY AND TECHNICALLY, THE STRENGTHENING OF THE HUMAN
SUPPORT SYSTEM, THAT IS THE FAMILY. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, THEY WOULD BE THE
MOST PROFITABLE INVESTMENTS THAT NATIONS HAVE EVER MADE

IN OUR WORLD TODAY, THERE IS THE CONTINUOUS LAMENTING OF THE LOSS OF
DECENT VALUES, AND A HEART WRENCHING YEARNING FOR THE RETURN OF “BASIC
VALUES”, BUT HOW CAN THERE BE BASIC VALUES, WHEN THE ONLY BASIC
INSTITUTION FOR THEIR CULTIVATION, NAMELY THE FAMILY, IS DISINTEGRATING?

WHERE ARE THESE VALUES EXPECTED TO COME FROM? IN ORDER TO HAVE THESE
BASIC CURRENCIES FOR HUMAN WELLBEING, WE MUST REBUILD AND SUSTAIN THE
STRENGTH OF THE ONLY MINT FROM WHICH THEY ARE MADE AND THAT IS THE
FAMILY, AND GOOD FAMILY LIVES DO NOT JUST HAPPEN EITHER. THEY REQUIRE
COMMITMENT, DEDICATION AND HARD WORK

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AS YOU ARE NOW FULLY AWARE, TONGANS' MAIN
INVESTMENT IS IN THE FAMILY, NOT SURPRISINGLY HER MAJOR DIVIDEND IS ALSO
FROM THE FAMILY.

THE FAMILY BANKING INSTITUTION IN WHICH WE INVEST IS THE WARM HEARTS OF
OUR PEOPLE. THE CURRENCIES OF OUR OWN INVESTMENT ARE LOVE, LOYALTY,
SHARING AND UNDERSTANDING. THE DIVIDENDS WHICH WE REAP MAINTAIN US FROM
THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE

AND THUS, IN CONCLUSION, TO THE CHINESE TRUISM THAT WOMEN HOLD UP HALF
THE SKY MAY I ADD THE ANCIENT TONGAN PEARL OF WISDOM THAT “FAMILIES HOLD
UP THE WHOLE SKY”.

OFA ATU