BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
SOLOMON Islands representatives are among 150 feminists across the Pacific participating in the second Pacific Feminist forum currently underway at Pearl Resort, Pacific Harbour in Suva, Fiji.
The forum focuses on sustain solidarity, building resistance and revolution with the aim to create positive change for women and girls.
Representing Solomon Islands are Martha Rurai the Provincial Desk officer for Malaita provincial council of Women and Island Sun journalist Mavis Nishimura Podokolo.
Mrs Rurai said she is honoured to be among the feminist participants sharing common issues affecting women in the pacific.
“I am glad to be part of the forum because it helps me to learn and share common issues affecting women across the pacific which different to mine.
“As Solomon islander activists this space is not only for me but am here representing my Solomon Islands sisters,” she said.
According to the Pacific Feminist forum 2019 statement it highlighted that the forum will mobilise diverse women from across the Pacific to share knowledge and experiences, celebrating achievements and strategies for collective action to achieve women’s human right.
“It will be a transformative space for Pacific feminists to reflect on key issues paramount to gender equality and women’s human rights and come together with strong, focused and accelerated strategies,” the statement said.
Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation in Fiji Mereseini Vuniwaqa in her opening address said the meeting is truly an essential inspiring and uplifting opportunity.
“This forum is truly a celebration of the contribution women Pacific islanders did in every aspect of life, in home, in our jobs in communities as feminists as mothers daughters, farmers, activists, students citizens and leaders,” Mrs Vunivaqa said.
She said feminists across the Pacific are growing from strength to strength with various feminist organisation networks, activities and groups.
The theme of the occasion is “sustaining solidarity resistance and revolution”.
The three-day forum was organised by the PFF working group that consists of femLINKPacific, Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM), Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality Fiji, Tongan Leitis Association and Rise UP (PNG). The 2nd PFF is supported by the Australian Government through the We Rise Coalition, Fiji Women’s Fund, Mama Cash and the UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office.
