Rusila Tekamotiata, Gender Equality Program Manager at the Australian High Commission in Kiribati, emphasized an obstacle confronting many societies. “Within families, women—particularly older women—are sometimes the strongest defenders of traditional male dominance,” she said.
Ms. Tekamotiata added: “For meaningful change to take root, transformation must begin at home.”
“Many families find themselves practicing patterns that, upon reflection, they recognize as harmful,” Mr. Terubentau added.
“But without opportunities for reflection, people may not see how certain norms are contributing to wider challenges. This is where spaces for thoughtful dialogue become so important.”
A question of authority and nobility
The consultation turned to deeper questions: What conditions allow people to bring about genuine change in their lives and communities, and why can that change sometimes prove so difficult, even when its importance is understood?
“There is a common assumption in many societies that change must be driven by external pressure,” Mr. Terubentau explains. “We see this pattern in various institutions—whether through legal penalties, social sanctions, or the threat of exclusion from community. These approaches all rely on authority to compel behavior.”
The underlying problem, he suggests, is a limited view of human capacity. “This thinking assumes people cannot change because they are not seen as noble beings. But they are spiritual beings with a higher nature that can help them transcend limitations.”
This shift—from seeing people as needing external control to recognizing their inherent nobility—reshapes how institutions relate to communities and individuals.
“When we see people as noble beings, communication changes. There is respect, because institutions are addressing noble souls,” said Mr. Terubentau.
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