Miss Micronesia, Minister Tangariki Reete and Minister Ruth Cross Kwansing. Photo: Supplied/ Cross Kwansing
Warning: This article discusses violence against women.
Kiribati's Minister for Women, who came into politics last year believing women should be elected on merit, has had a change of heart and now supports special seats for women in parliament.
"I've come to realise I was way off the mark on that," Ruth Cross Kwansing told RNZ Pacific.
Unlike many women in Kiribati and across the Pacific, Cross Kwansing had the advantage of growing up in Australia, with opportunities not afforded to others whose voices also matter.
With very serious gender equity issues persisting in Kiribati and the wider region, Cross Kwansing said women must be at decision-making tables.
Otherwise, she added, "developmental constraints" would continue to exist as long as "equal participation" in politics is lacking.
"We are literally impoverished by the fact that we don't have women in political roles," Cross Kwansing said, something she wrote down when listening to former Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa speak.
With Fiame losing this year's snap election, the region has just one female leader sitting at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders' table - Marshall Islands President Dr Hilda Heine.
"It is a shame for the Pacific region," Cross Kwansing said.
President Hilda Heine and UNSG António Guterres at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. August 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
While acknowledging greater female participation is a long game, Cross Kwansing said for now at least there must be temporary special measures.
Time for change
She decscribed this change of heart as somewhat of a "light bulb moment" after attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and UN Women's Conference in September.
"And if that means appointing people, then so be it, because it's more important to just get that 30 percent and then 50 percent and get some equal footing so that countries can develop a lot quicker.
"I've done a complete 180 but then I'm just one of 46 politicians in Kiribati," Cross Kwansing said.
She is now taking the time to further educate herself and put her thoughts into writing.
"We need to do things differently. It needs to be special [seats for women in parliament] to get it to where it needs to be," Cross Kwansing said.
A delegate from Kiribati in a meeting during the third day of the general debate of the General Assembly's eightieth session. September 2025 Photo: UN Photo/Laura Jarriel
Economic empowerment 'critical'
As the Women's Minister, among other portfolios, Cross Kwansing is looking at women's economic empowerment to address gender-based violence issues in her country.
She wants to introduce a crisis payment system that incentivises women to get out of abusive situations.
"The hope would be to encourage women to reach out for help earlier."
She believes if women know that such a system is available to them, they will think "at least if I call them, I'm going to get this $100 or $200 that is going to get me through this mess".
"Maybe I can go stay somewhere else and take the kids with me, whatever. But then that also, then has to trigger a whole bunch of wrap-around services," Cross Kwansing said.
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Another area that she hopes to focus on is empowering women to gain equal qualification and education.
"So providing business training, micro loans for women, so that women without an education [who] are really at the vulnerable end of the spectrum have access to those opportunities. Because we're seeing changes in those women, and we're seeing changes in how the community and the island responds even to that very opportunity."
"If you're relying on your husband or your partner for your livelihood and for your children to be able to get to school, then no matter how hard the situation is, we know that women will sacrifice and struggle because they know that if they leave or press charges or do any of those things, they know that they're going to be putting their children and themselves at risk.
"They're just taking the hits," she said.
She said hope comes from more economic empowerment, that is, through jobs, education and building their own livelihoods.
"We've tried everything, and we're going to do things differently."
Cross Kwansing also noted that the Trump administration's decision to freeze funding for Pacific aid and development programmes has affected the work the Kiribati government is doing on women's issues.
"We're already constrained with our resources. It's impacting us because when our aid agencies are scrambling for a way forward that directly impacts the work being done by the ministries," she said.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon with Pacific leaders at Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting. 11 September 2025. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Caleb Fotheringham
Gender equality and social inclusion are a key part of the PIF's agenda. This means issues discussed at a ministerial level have a better chance of reaching leaders at their annual meeting.
"The standing item means that we constantly reconvene to talk about these issues and how we can continue to improve as a as a region. So then, obviously we are able to leverage that collective action," Cross Kwansing said, who is a Pacific Political Climate Champion for gender and social inclusion.
According to UN figures, Kiribati has one of the highest domestic violence rates in the Pacific.
"Our statistics in the Pacific are some of the highest in the world. I know in Kiribati, it's around 68-70 percent and it's alarming. But then again, this is across the board in the Pacific."
She added for real change, there must be female representation at the top.
