BY GEORGINA KEKEA
40 rural women leaders from Guadalcanal, Malaita and Western province are expected to participate in a two days peacebuilding program, commencing today. A statement from UN Women says it is their intention to build the skills and confidence of the women leaders to engage in policy discussion with provincial and national authorities.
“We will introduce the women leaders to the “hard” issues that came out of the Provincial and National Dialogue process that culminated in a set of resolutions to be implemented at national and provincial level”, the statement says. The agenda of the workshop includes sessions on inclusive political participation, land issues, decentralization, integrity and reparations.
Concretely, the objectives of the workshop are to empower women leaders to engage in policy discussions with Executives and other government officials, as well as with traditional and religious leaders, discuss five national dialogue themes (participation, land, decentralisation, integrity, reparations) and agree on their specific gender dimensions, identify provincial gender and peacebuilding priorities, considering the National and Provincial Women Policy and 2019 National Elections, explore ways to link and learn with women leaders across provinces and with relevant government entities, women’s groups and other stakeholders at national level and to discuss the purpose and functions of a Provincial Women Caucus to increase women’s political participation in decision-making.
UN Women in partnership with Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) is conducting this dialogue workshop.
