Majuro, Marshall Islands – The 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women opened with an esteemed and vibrant welcome ceremony on Saturday, 20 July 2024 in Majuro, Marshall Islands. The 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women will take place from 22 – 24 July, followed by the 8th Meeting of Pacific Ministers for Women on 25 July, and the Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting on 26 July.
Held at the College of Marshall Island’s Sgt Solomon Sam Memorial Court, the Government of Marshall Islands hosted guests to a culturally rich ceremony featuring traditional performances and heartfelt welcoming gestures. Government delegations from 22 countries as well as representatives of civil society organisations, traditional leaders, and representatives of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies attended the welcoming ceremony setting the stage for empowering discussions and exchanges over the coming days.
« We are capable of creating waves that can transform our world, » Marshall Island’s Presidential Envoy for Women, Children, and Youth, Senator Daisy Alik-Momotaro, told guests who arrived from across our Blue Pacific at the welcome ceremony, emphasising on the theme of this year’s conference: « An Pilinlin Koba Ekaman Lometo - For a Resilient and Sustainable Future ».
"We are thrilled to inaugurate the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women. This gathering underscore our commitment to fostering inclusive dialogue and tangible actions that empower women throughout our diverse Pacific communities. Each of you, like individual droplets, contributes to the vast and powerful ocean of change and progress," she said.
SPC’s Human Rights and Social Development Director Miles Young said: ‘The next few days will bring together the full complement of stakeholders to deliberate and take decisions on issues concerning women and girls, gender equality and the realisation of human rights for women in the Pacific.’
High-profile guests slated to speak at the Triennial convenings include Her Excellency, Hilda Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; Honourable Feleti Teo, Prime Minister of Tuvalu; Honourable Lynda Tabuya, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Fiji; Honourable Jess Gasper Jr, Minister for Culture and Internal Affairs, Marshall Islands; Reverend James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Council of Churches; and Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki, Director, Women & Children Crisis Center, Tonga.
--------------------------
This article was originally posted on the website of the Pacific Community (SPC) and can be viewed HERE.
