BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
INFLUENTIAL women leaders from Malaita, Guadalcanal and Western provinces are in Honiara for a two-day dialogue workshop to empower women’s leadership and peacebuilding issues.
The workshop started on Monday at the Mendana Hotel.
More than 30 participants are attending the workshop which is organised by the UN Women, UNDP and Women’s Development Division of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs.
It is a follow-up session to one which was hosted in early January this year in which the Government, UNDP and UN Women planned efforts on a gender mainstreamed roadmap.
Permanent Secretary for the MWYCFA Dr Cedric Alependava said the dialogue is crucial for women to share ideas, as they are very influential leaders at the provincial level, to push for women’s agendas.
Alependava adds, such dialogue is meant for women to discuss issues of land, corruption and women’s right which are huge challenges to peace and peacebuilding at the provincial and community levels.
He said from this dialogue women will build a provincial women leaders’ strong network to support the provincial councils to implement dialogue actions and promote political participation in decision making and conflict resolutions.
and Western provinces.
“Such women’s caucuses could also contribute to increase women’s engagement in national election process and to monitor the conflict situation to prevent violence and increase security of women at community and provincial level,” Alependava said.
UNDP Solomon Islands Country Manager Ms Azusa Kuboto encourages women to participate fully, to discuss issues relating to land, corruption and women’s rights.
The dialogue yesterday was built on an objective with Provincial Women’s Caucus of the Western Province, Malaita and Guadalcanal will;
Advise the respective Provincial Council in the implementation of the National Dialogue resolutions and the National Action Plan on Women’s Equality.
Promote political participation of women in decision-making and conflict resolution.
Report to and conduct regular consultations with the Premier and their office.
Communicate regularly and consult and/or advise UN Women and the Ministry of Women, Youth and Family Affairs on the effective implementation of the NAP.
Azusa Kuboto, PS for MWYCFA Dr Cedric Alependava and a staff.
