By RODRICK DESURI
Auki
In the rural communities of Malaita Province, women are still facing many significant challenges.
Malaita Provincial Government Legal Advisor Godfrey Male voiced this during yesterday’s celebration marking International Women’s Day in Auki.
He said many of the challenges women face include inequality in education, limited access to opportunities, and barriers in leadership and decision-making.
“They endure violence, discrimination, and injustice in silence. Some also carry the heavy burden of unpaid care work while striving to provide for their families,” he said.
He said although women face these challenges, they do not give up but rise up.
“Every day, women contribute immensely to our society and economy. They cultivate our land as farmers, serve as market vendors sustaining our local economy, shape our institutions as professionals, and act as caregivers holding families and communities together,” he said.
Male said in order to support and mitigate the challenges faced, there must be action.
He said that there must be a change in the mindset of people, shifting away from traditions and attitudes that limit women’s involvement.
“As a society, we must change our mindset, move away from our traditions and attitudes that limit women, and instead embrace values that uplift and respect them,” he said.
He also encourages men to be partners in the journey to support women.
“To the men here today, you are the partners in this journey. Supporting women’s rights is not a women’s issue; it is a human issue.
“When women rise, families rise, communities rise, and nations rise,” he said.
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