Women leaders meet opens 2022 for Pacific Islands Forum
Amilestone moment for the Pacific gender agenda as the inaugural Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders meeting convened virtually on Thursday.
Forum Ministers for Women examined the role of women and girls in Pacific futures, with a focus on impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate change crisis and disaster risk responses, and the 2050 strategy for the Blue Pacific continent.
A major review of the 2012 Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration, set to go before Forum Leaders, was also presented and discussed by the PIF Women Leaders Meeting.
Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar, as head of delegation for the host country, met chair. The virtual event delivered outcomes and recommendations to the Forum Leaders for their 51st Forum meetings in 2022.
“It is vital that the voices and vision of our Pacific women, in all their diversity and experience, shape the futures of their communities, nations, and our one Blue Pacific continent—without that inclusive approach, sustainable development is impossible. I know we are all looking forward to getting to the heart of the challenges impacting our communities through and beyond COVID and sharing solutions and ideas to ensure the dream for our Pacific future is a dream for all Pacific people,” the minister said.
Forum Secretary General Henry Puna said the Women Leaders meeting “will also ensure we keep the spotlight on gender equality commitments such as the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration. It’s also an important opportunity for our secretariat to ensure we work smarter and better with all regional organisations on the regional and global gender agenda”.