Release Date: 16/05/23
The strength of feminist solidarity and unity of strong, diverse Pacific women was the highlight of the 3rd Pacific Feminist Forum as participants concluded the three day extensive programme last week at the Pearl Resort, Pacific Harbour.
Participants said goodbye to one another with music, meke and singing acknowledging each other with gratitude for the connections made, the learnings from the event and the platform provided to share their experiences and lived realities with strategies to push their issues to the
global audience.
The 3rd PFF was supported by the Australian Government through both the We Rise Coalition and the Pacific Women Lead at Pacific Community (PWL at SPC), and UN Women through the global Spotlight Initiative of the United Nations which had received generous support from the European Union.
The conclusion of the programme also produced an outcomesstatement that listed the demands of feminists and womenโs human rights defenders which highlighted issues of decolonization and identity challenges, the climate change crisis and displacement of homes in low lying islands in
the region, lack of women in leadership spaces and more.
The Pacific feminists recognised the need for a platform such as the PFF as a space for them to speak on urgent issues from their island countries.
โThe PFF provides an opportunity for us to be able to come and share our experiences from the different countries we come from and to advocate for womenโs rights and promote gender equality,โ said Solomon Islander Ender Rence of Women in Media and Communications.
Joey Joleen Mataele, Executive Director and co-founder of the Tonga Leitisโ Association said, โThe PFF is important to me because I get to have a voice in room full of diverse of women from all parts of the Pacific. Having to get your voice being heard and youโre not just talking about your own country but rather the whole of the rainbow community in the Pacific.โ
rThe final outcomes statement will be available soon and the issues raised were also highlighted at the Women Deliver event that was held at the same venue last week, and will be shared at upcoming events in Melbourne and Kigali.
ENDS
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