SUVA, FIJI – 17 February 2026 – The Oceania Customs Organisation has completed a series of online discussions with members aimed at creating a more inclusive Customs environment for all Pacific people highlighting opportunities to engage better with women and people with disabilities.
The three virtual sessions were held over the past three months. The final discussion on February 11 not only focused on supporting people with disabilities in our workplaces but also in our communities with representatives from Guam, New Caledonia, Australia and the Pacific Disability Forum sharing their experiences.
An earlier session in January examined how women in leadership positions can strengthen organisations. It featured Customs leaders from Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Indonesia.
Laisa Naivalurua, OCO’s Operations Manager, said the conversations were about practical change.
“We want our Customs workplaces to be safe and respectful places where everyone can do their best work. It will also translate into how we can better serve our communities,” she said. “By talking together, we’re learning from each other and finding practical ways to remove barriers.”
Last year, heads of Customs of OCO member countries signed the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Declaration during the 27th Annual Conference in Guam, committing to promoting gender equality, inclusive workplaces, and women’s leadership development across regional customs agencies.
The document sets out eight areas for action, including fair treatment, preventing harassment and tracking progress. The first session in this series which was held in December aimed at creating awareness on the principles of OCO’s GESI Declaration and the progress of GESI activities in line with the indicators of OCO’s Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
Five years ago, there were only five Pacific countries who had formal equality plans for their Customs services, it has now grown to 14.
OCO is targeting to have more than 15 of its 24 member countries to have plans in place by 2027. Current statistics indicate that women represent approximately 40% of the Customs workforce across OCO member countries, but only 30% of senior leadership positions. The GESI Declaration aims to address this imbalance through targeted interventions, mentorship programs, and policy reforms.
Last year, with European Union funding, OCO developed assessment tools and practical guides to help countries measure progress and plan improvements.
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