THE GOVERNMENT now has national policies in place that recognises gender equality as the heart of human and economic progress.
Minister of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs Jimson Tanagada was speaking at International Women’s Day celebration in Honiara yesterday which was celebrated at the Art Gallery.
“Through these policies, our efforts have been focused on realising the following outcomes which are; to improve and equitable health and education for girls and boys, women and men, improved economic status of women and girls, increased participation of women in leadership and decision making, elimination of violence against women and increased capacity in gender mainstreaming,” he said.
Mr Tanagada noted to advance government’s mission towards the fulfillment of these outcomes they have built networks and partnerships ensuring increased collaboration in their implementation and seeing that our links with the provinces are improved.
“It is pleasing to see how far we have strengthened our partnerships among the different players including the government, NGOs and development partners. Our reach and range at the provincial and community levels have seen some pleasing results as well.”
The Minister took the opportunity to report DCC government’s vision to empower all Solomon islanders to attain a meaningful quality of life through social and economic reforms speaks directly to this year’s IWD theme of empowering women and girls.
He said, the DCC government seeks to achieve some of its objectives to establish and develop community engagement programs that address the needs of women, youth and children, strengthen gender equality, facilitate women and youth livelihood empowerment programmes through direct funding of micro/small and medium enterprise projects and work in partnership with organisations, companies, business houses to increase gender equality in the workplace.
He pointed out over the next four years, the DCC government is committed to realising the achievement of these objectives and fulfillment of its goals.
By TRIXIE CARTER