BY JOY OFASIA
DURING her recent visit to the Solomon Islands, Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality, Ms. Stephanie Copus Campbell, underscored the importance of lifting barriers to allow everyone, regardless of gender, to reach their full potential.
In an exclusive interview with the Solomon Women’s Newspaper, Ms. Campbell passionately spoke about how societal norms and gender biases often create greater obstacles for women, hindering them from realizing their full capabilities.
“Gender equality is about providing every person, regardless of their gender, with the opportunity to reach their potential. This means recognizing and removing the barriers that exist for both women and men,” Ms. Campbell explained. “In many cases, the barriers women face are more pronounced because of outdated norms and attitudes about what women should do and how violence may affect them differently.”
She highlighted that Australia’s partnership with the Solomon Islands is centered around creating equal opportunities for all citizens. Australia, she said, works closely with the government and civil society to remove these barriers, whether they are in business, politics, or other sectors.
“The goal is to help the Solomon Islands by supporting programs that give women the tools they need to succeed, particularly in business and addressing violence against women,” Ms. Campbell added.
One area where the ambassador sees potential for further support is in helping women break into politics. She proposed programs and training designed to address the unique barriers women face in political participation, ensuring that they have the support and resources needed to engage fully in decision-making processes.
During her visit, Ms. Campbell had the opportunity to meet with some truly inspiring women from across the Solomon Islands. She visited the Munda Market Vendors Association, a UN Women ‘Markets for Change’ project supported by the Australian Government, as well as a girl’s dormitory at the Tabaka Rural Training Centre. She also met with women business leaders and politicians to engage in open discussions on how they could learn from each other and continue supporting one another.
“It’s been incredibly inspiring meeting such talented and thoughtful women here in the Solomon Islands. Their ideas and strategies are shaping a better future for everyone,” she said.
Her visit highlighted how collaboration and strong partnerships between nations can lead to meaningful change, especially when the focus is on lifting women and men alike, ensuring they have equal opportunities to thrive.
