“WE HAVE HEARD THE CALL”: PM SOGAVARE ON POLITICAL CONFERENCE

“We have heard the call” – says the Prime Minister when he officially declared the opening of the Women’s Leadership and Political Participation Conference at the FFA Conference Room in Honiara this morning.

The high-level conference is a preparatory event for two significant electoral reforms in the country – the Political Parties Integrity Act and the Electoral Provisions Act.

During the conference, Solomon Islands stakeholders and experts from other Pacific Island countries are expected to engage in in-depth dialogue on how best to increase women’s participation and representation in leadership and politics.

Recommendations from this conference will be included among the reforms of the two Acts.

Speaking this morning, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said his government is committed to the cause of ensuring the leadership and political participation of women in Solomon Islands.

“We have heard time and again of the demands to assume greater responsibility in serving this nation and we have seen over and over again the efforts of agents and proponents of women in leadership calling upon governments past and present to prioritize reforms that would change the status of women in Solomon Islands politics. Now as Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands and leader of the Democratic Coalition for Change Government it is with sincerity that I on behalf of my Government echo my government’s commitment to that cause. We have heard the call.”

The Women’s Leadership and Political Participation Conference ends on Thursday this week.