By Samantha Semoso – EMTV Online
Ethical Traveller, a Californian based environmentalist group, has included Tonga in its annual list of ‘The World’s Ten Best Ethical Destinations’.
The winners, Tonga, Capo Verde, Dominica, Grenada, Micronesia, Mongolia, Panama, Samoa, Tuvalu and Uruguay, were ranked according to national progress in Environmental Protection, Social welfare and Human Rights and from results by a survey evaluating the progress of countries across the world.
Ethical Traveller stated that it’scored Tonga the highest in environmental protection; citing the recent installation of solar renewable energy plants, the increase of national marine reserves and advocacy for greater action on climate change and also credited Tonga for a high literacy rate (99 per cent), well above the global average of 84 per cent.
Tonga however was criticised for being only one of seven nations in the world that have not ratified the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, stating the stance underscores troubling cultural beliefs regarding the status of women in society and are asked to improve in the coming years.
