BY JOY OFASIA
THE Honiara City Council Women’s Desk facilitators, community and church women group leaders, and students have taken up a new approach to deal with gender issues through the ongoing formulation of a new policy in Honiara.
They gathered at the Honiara City Council, Education Conference Room for the policy workshop based on how to tackle gender issues affecting the country and create changes in our communities.
A workshop participant, Angela Sikoae told Solomon Women that the 3 days training workshop highlighted different gender issues such as education opportunities for females, economic equality, domestic violence, women’s reproductive rights, and other important issues.
“The workshop was one of the ways to bring women from around the City to discuss women and gender issues that are presently happening in communities in the country. We have identified strategies; actors and stakeholders that could address and help solve these issues.
“Domestic violence is one of the major issues that affect women in our country and to be able to witness women from various backgrounds been able to assemble and discuss, share and contribute ideas was a very encouraging thing especially to see women taking part in trying to find ways to solve these issues,” Angela added.
Meanwhile, the workshop facilitator, Janet Oge spoke of how the Council plays a major role in empowering young girls and women in Honiara City.
“The vision to empower women and girls to constructively participate as an equal partner in the development of Honiara city. Our mission is to facilitate, coordinate and implement activities that could lead to increased capacities of women and girls and also to provide opportunities that could empower women and girls to fully participate in the City’s development,” Oge said.
Janet Oge said that the Honiara City Council Women’s Desk has played a lot of major advisory roles and functions in setting and formulating women’s policies, and also provides coordination with other provincial partners.
“We are have continued our networks and services with other existing women’s organizations in the rural areas. Also, we provide skills training to women and girls at the community level,” she said.
The workshop ended last week.
