The Pacific Theological College in partnership with the Australian Government supported Pacific Women Lead programme of the Pacific Pacific-Community-SPC has launched the ReStorying Pasifika Gender for Transformative Leadership for Justice – A Niu Pasifika Gender Paradigm. The launch happened at the Islander Missionaries Memorial Chapel, amongst the memories and annals of rich Pasifika missionary history – marking a new paradigm of thinking about and unpacking the ‘gender narrative’ from the Pasifika lens.
In launching the project, led by the Centre for Gender and Social Justice, PTC Principal Rev. Professor Upolu Luma Vaai emphasised the vital importance of ReStorying Gender from the Pasifika context. We cannot afford to be dictated by a gender story that is not ours. That we do not own. Something that is imposed, and structured according to Western philosophical ideals.
Rev. Professor Vaai said – that the “Restorying Pasifika Gender Project” seeks to redefine gender from a ‘whole of life’ perspective. Traditional gender narratives, often influenced by Western philosophical traditions that centre binaries and compartmentalization, overlook the complexities and multidimensionality of Pasifika cultures. He added current gender narrative cannot help reduce the rising violence, revealing the inadequacy of a rights-based focus alone. Instead, the project advocates for a multidimensional understanding that incorporates local philosophies, ethics, and spirituality. Millions of dollars spent on gender violence still cannot heal the issue. Rev. Professor Vaai added that by reconnecting with ‘whole of life’ ethical foundations, we can foster genuine respect for human dignity and craft effective solutions rooted in Pasifika traditions, ultimately transforming community perspectives on gender and promoting holistic healing.
The SPC’s Principal Strategic Lead for Pacific Women and Girls and former Fijian Minister for Women Mereseini Rakuita said the grant from SPC through the Pacific Women Lead programme is a Master seed being planted. She said, “Our lives as Pasifika people are inextricably linked in one way or another to Christianity – whether we are believers or not. Such us the power and influence that the church has on the fabric of our region. When that power and influence is targeted on gender equality it can bring about transformative change to our people. The grant by SPC is more than just an investment, it is a of a Master seed that is being planted. It comes with a lot of faith and hope in the church as a strong platform for leveraging gender equality efforts the region. It comes with the belief that our regional aspiration that Pasifika people living free and productive lives cannot be achieved without the church playing a central role in our regional efforts.”
The event was widely attended by civil society including the Fiji Council of Social Services and the Methodist Church Women’s Fellowship that are partners in the project, the Fijian Government’s Women’s Ministry, the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the World Bank Pacific, church partners, Pacific Pacific-Community-SPC officials, development agency partners like Tetra Tech, the Pacific Islands Forum and the PTC community.
