The Polynesian island nation of Tonga has moved to explicitly ban same-sex marriage after community and church leaders expressed concerns that the country’s expected ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) would open the door to same-sex marriage.

CEDAW, an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly, guarantees certain rights for women including spousal choice and family planning.

Said Lopeti Senituli, chief executive of Internal Affairs:

“Under our existing Deaths, Births and Marriages Registration Act there is no specific reference for or against same sex marriage. The government is proposing now that we amend our Deaths, Births and Marriages Registration Act to prohibit same sex marriage.”

[h/t Radio New Zealand]