President Heine emphasizes bold, innovative strategies to address gender equality and bridge existing gaps across the Pacific
By Netani Rika – Majuro, Marshall Islands
PACIFIC leaders must be innovative and bold to create gender equality and respond to gaps which exist in their efforts to bridge differences. Marshall Islands President, Dr Hilda C. Heine, said gender could not be addressed in isolation.
“We must think also of how it intersects with our other challenges and opportunities and develop our policies and approaches with gender equality in mind,” Heine said at the 15 th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women. “Our gender equality journey calls on Pacific leadership to be intentional, innovative and bold in our responses to the gaps that we see in our efforts. “We must take risks, create new partnerships, and be unwavering in our commitment to bring about substantive gender equality for the region.’’ The triennial is the latest in a series which was first proposed in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in 1974. Representatives from governments throughout the region are represented at the event which will be followed by a meeting of Pacific ministers for women.
“We have come a long way in terms of advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in the Pacific,” Heine said. “Almost 50 years ago in 1975, 80 women from across the Pacific convened in Suva to talk about forces that shape women in society. ‘’ The initial meeting of 80 women identified family, culture and traditions, religion, education, media, law and politics as thematic areas which deserved attention and discussion. “As we convene the 15 th Triennial Conference of Pacific women here in Majuro, let us acknowledge the vision and foresight of these trailblazers – thanks to them, we now have a space in our region to discuss how we can advance and accelerate gender equality and the advancement of women,” Heine said. She challenged Pacific women to extend their role as mothers who nurture and weave society towards nation building.
“A mother helps to nurture and weaves the society, therefore building a nation. That is our role. That is what we do. It is in our DNA,’’ Heine said. “Current women leaders stand on the shoulders of those women who came before us, many had no clue about the PPA or what feminism is all about; yet their roles called for them to be involved and to push the boundaries; similarly, it is the responsibility of current women leaders to nurture and to mentor the next generation of women leaders, the leaders of tomorrow.’’
The triennial ends on Thursday
