Yap Summit Community Sector - Yap State Government

YAP STATE GOVERNMENT
Critical aspects were highlighted that may affect the final achievement of the Goal:
• The Goal is being achieved very slowly, as traditionally women are strong in their leadership, but in the
new Government structure the relations were substantially complicated. It is perceived as arguable
whether this Goal applies to the Yapese reality, as there are women in public positions, including
leadership positions in the Government. Additionally many Yapese women believe that there should be a
meritocracy system in place, and that horizontal positive discrimination should not be the way through
which women get into leadership positions.
• Many women do actually have both training and background to be in key leadership roles. The critical
aspect is that they actually do not get the jobs. Although the cause may be attributed to the gender
hierarchies in terms of ownership of businesses, mainly in the private sector, the lack of use of gained
training and education by women do represent an economic loss, an a manpower disempowerment.
Recommendations were made to support the achievement of the Goal:
• Further analysis should be done regarding the Yapese relevance of the Goal, and its different perception
by different women and stakeholders.
Gender # 3: Mainstream Gender Issues into Decision- Making, Policies and Strategic Development Plans.
being achieved/strong impediments
Positive aspects towards the achievement of the Goal:
• Gender is starting to be targeted explicitly in policies that involve the youth.
Critical aspects were highlighted that may affect the final achievement of the Goal:
• It is extremely difficult to tackle gender related issues, as gender is not openly mainstreamed, despite the
fact that gender issues are silently what drive many decision making processes.
• The definition and perception of priority related to gender issues is substantially different at a National
level and at a Yap State level: while women in the other states seem to support positive discrimination
initiatives to insure women representations in the public arena, a consistent part of Yapese women
supports meritocracy instead, opposing policies promoting positive discrimination.
Recommendations were made to support the achievement of the Goal:
• A Yapese debate on how and in which domain gender issues should be mainstreamed should be
undertaken.
Gender # 4: Maximize Women’s Contribution to and Participation in Democratic and Development Processes by
Creating Opportunities for women’s Active Involvement.
being achieved/no elements to value it
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