It is long past the time to reap the benefits that economic empowerment of women can bring to indiviual women, their families and the economy. This policy brief examines how to put gender equality centre stage in the Pacific. It discusses using temporary special measures (TPMs), gender mainstreaming and how highlighting the costs of gender inequality can help build political will to address it. The paper also looks at the high rate of violence against women and low rates of political participation in the Pacific. It then mentions some progress: commitments made under CEDAW, TPMs and gender mainstreaming.