The Pacific Island Development Forum (PIDF) extends to all women their best wishes as we acknowledge International Women’s Day today, 8th March, 2016.
Today is a time to reflect on progress made and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities
Worldwide, women continue to contribute to social, economic, cultural and political achievement and we have much to celebrate today. The 2016 theme for International Women’s Day is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”, which is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for the new Sustainable Development Goals.
Women are particularly vulnerable to the devastating effects of climate change and therefore more significant and substantive efforts for women’s economic empowerment and for gender equality more generally, require more resources, greater accountability, stronger partnerships and institutions, and better regional cooperation.
“When women fight for their families’ and communities’ health and well-being, they also fight for the health of the Earth. Their perspectives are essential to ensuring local people have a say in the changes affecting their lives,” said PIDF Secretary General, Mr François Martel.
“We here at PIDF are also proud to have a gender balanced ratio of intellectual women who make 50 percent of our staff and their positions also include senior management levels, as our commitment to be an equal opportunity employer,” he further added.
The PIDF will continue to work with gender based organisations and other development partners and member countries especially in the areas of climatic justice and empowerment of our pacific women with the goal of stopping the escalation of climate change and environmental and community degradation.
PIDF celebrated the occasion with a morning tea celebration held at the PIDF Secretariat in Nasese this morning.