SOLOMAN ISLANDS: Guadalcanal province women meet to formulate their policy

Recognising the need to address issues affecting women and girls in Guadalcanal Province the Women Development Division (WDD) of the province in collaboration with the Women Development Division of the Ministry of Women, youth and children Affairs (MWYCFA) strive to ensure that Guadalcanal province has it own policy.

A three days forum therefore was officially opened yesterday at the Guadalcanal women resources centre at Henderson.

It aims to give better understanding of how gender needs and issues can be captured and formulated into a policy where it can be used to guide programs and activities for women in Guadalcanal Province.

The forum was attended by women representative from all areas in Guadalcanal Province.

Director of Women Development Division (MWYCFA) Janet Tuhaika and Minister for the Ministry of Women, Youth and Sports of Guadalcanal Province (GP) Eileen Sulukonina were present during the official opening.

Mrs Tuhaika during the opening ceremony stressed the need for women in each province to have their own policy in which the success of Guadalcanal women policy will be counted as the first province to have its own women policy.

“This is very important because although the Solomon Islands national gender equality and women's development policy exists, it is important for each province capturing or incorporating their own needs and issues in their own policy.”

She said the three days workshop is the beginning of the process and therefore urged women of Guadalcanal province to take ownership of the process and the outcome.

Guadalcanal Provincial minister for women, youth and Sport Eileen Sulukonina when presenting the keynote address pledged her ministry's support on the organised forum.

“ I support this forum as once formulated and implemented, this policy will address the issues and concerns of girls and women on Guadalcanal to become equal and active partners, not only in the development of Guadalcanal but in the country as a whole.”

Mrs Sulukonina appreciated the presences of women representatives of all areas in Guadalcanal as their attendances show their recognition towards implementing the policy.

“By sharing your experiences and knowledge on issues faced by Guadalcanal girls and women, it will help us to develop a policy framework that will be implemented to empower girls and women in the province.”