BY CHARLIE SALINI
WOMEN across the globe are given the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and improve failures annually in the International Women’s Day and for this year, women are calling for equality via the theme; Making it Happen.
The theme based on the event of encouraging effective action for advancing and recognizing women in all development levels. Various women’s organizations across the globe identify their own International Women’s Day theme, specific to their local context and interests. Solomon Islands have chosen there’s which labelled; ‘Empowering Women & Girls in Solomon Islands.’
The Solomon Women Newspaper has the opportunity to talk with the Honiara Women’s Association President Ms Janet Oge via email last week.
Below are our conversations:
QUESTION: What would it be for local women here at the up the coming International Women’s Day?
JANET: International Women’s Day will be celebrated in Honiara on Tuesday 10th March starting with a parade from Honiara City Council from 8am. The parade aims to highlight and celebrate the achievements and potential of Solomon Islands women.
The Ministry of Women, Youth, Children, and Family Affairs through the Honiara City Council and the International Women’s Day Committee are happy to invite all women, men, boys and girls, organizations, church groups, community groups, and schools to participate in this parade, and to wear something purple a demonstration of solidarity.
The parade will be followed by programme at the National Art Gallery including a key note address, live entertainment including dancing, musical performances and drama, as well as information and kaikai stalls. The theme for this year is gathers together women of all races, colour and creed to celebrate together the joy of being women.
It is a day that women do not only celebrate the achievements and successes, but a day to remember the challenges and the obstacles that women have gone through in the past in order to reach where they are today.
It is also a day to remember the great women who have paved the way forward for the women of today to taste what equality is. Observing the 8 March also provides the space for women to remember women and children who are in countries that are at war with each other, where women’s rights is viewed as unacceptable or non- existed.
So really it is not all about celebration the successes, but it is also about solidarity, standing together with the suffering women everywhere. As the day is celebrated in Solomon Islands, let us ‘Empowering Women & Girls in Solomon Islands – Making it Happen’.
This year’s theme highlights the important role women are already playing in the development of the Solomon Islands as well as the continuing need for women and men, girls and boys, to work together to address barriers to gender equality.
Organizations are encouraged to recognize and celebrate the specific ways that they are working towards the empowerment of women and girls here. International Women’s Day provides government, NGOs, churches, police, community organizations, schools, men and women, girls and boys, the opportunity to come together to show their support.
QUESTION: What reflection will Honiara Women focus on during the celebration?
JANET: International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the Solomon Islands, and the Pacific.
Alongside this progress, it is also important to acknowledge that progress towards achieving gender equality across the Pacific has been slow, uneven and in some cases women girls face new and more complex challenges daily.
International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to recommit ourselves to working harder for gender equality, together as women, men, youth, and leaders of nations, communities, religion and commerce.
Evidence of Pacific leaders’ commitment to gender equality was apparent with the issue of a Gender Equality Declaration during the 2012 annual Pacific Island Forum Leaders meetings where dialogue identified how progress on all Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is contingent on achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.
Leaders agreed that ‘gender inequality is imposing a high personal, social and economic cost on Pacific people and nations, and that improved gender equality will make a significant contribution to creating a prosperous, stable and secure Pacific for all current and future generations.’
Globally, women spend the majority of their income on the well-being of their children and family. Raising women’s labour force participation increases economic growth. By ending women’s poverty, we will sustainably and significantly reduce extreme poverty worldwide.
By keeping girls in school longer with quality education, we will empower young women to play their full role in society and build stronger families, communities and democracies.
By advancing equal opportunity and removing structural barriers to women’s economic empowerment, we will reduce inequality and spur inclusive economic growth. If we act decisively with the knowledge that empowering women and girls and supporting their full participation, can help solve the greatest challenges of the 21st century, we will find lasting solutions to many of the problems we face in our world. Major challenges such as poverty, inequality, violence against women and girls and insecurity will be addressed substantially.
This International Women’s Day, we are highlighting the importance of achieving equality for women and girls not simply because it is a matter of fairness and fundamental human rights, but because progress in so many other areas depends on it.
Countries with more gender equality have better economic growth. Companies with more women leaders perform better. Peace agreements that include women are more durable. Parliaments with more women enact more legislation on key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child support.
The evidence is clear.
