Tonga’s decision last month to sign on to a United Nations convention banning discrimination of women (CEDAW) has led to accusations it will lead to abortion and same-sex marriage in the Kingdom.
Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki, director of the Tonga Women and Children’s Crisis Centre, spoke to Radio Australia and said “their fears about CEDAW are misplaced, because Tonga has specifically said it will not accept certain parts of it, including abortion and same-sex marriage.”
Radio New Zealand reported that the chief executive of Internal Affairs Lopeti Senituli says the government is planning law changes to satisfy the church leaders.
“Under our existing Deaths, Births and Marriages Registration Act there is no specific reference for or against same sex marriage. The government is proposing now that we amend our Deaths, Births and Marriages Registration Act to prohibit same sex marriage.”
Mr Senituli says any ratification will include reservations or conditions to allow for cultural considerations such as same-sex marriage, abortion, the royal succession and noble titles.
- Radio Australia: Misplaced talk of abortion, same-sex marriage if Tonga adopts CEDAW
- Radio NZ: Tonga to ban same sex marriage for CEDAW
- Express: Tonga Set to Outlaw Same Sex Marriage
- Wikipedia: LGBT Rights in Tonga
