INDIGENOUS LAW JOURNAL

This article explores the conflict between Indigenous customary law in the island states of the southwest Pacific and constitutionally enshrined human rights banning gender discrimination. The author argues that while some Pacific island states have ratified or acceded to written frameworks for the protection of gender equality rights through documents such as CEDAW, in practice, South Pacific nations have not upheld their obligations. The author discusses the status of women in South Pacific nations, illustrating the generally patriarchal

This article discusses internal and external discrimination faced by Maori women in New Zealand and processes in international law available to those who wish to challenge discriminatory laws and practices. A concise explanation of the pre-colonial and post- colonial interpersonal relationship of Maori women precedes the author's discussion of legal remedies to discriminatory practices, which focus on the Optional Protocol procedure and the Women's Committee in the context of the Mana Wahine Claim. The author concludes that it may be appropriate for