Samoa Reaffirms Commitment to Gender Equality & Women Empowerment

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 18 March 2024: Samoa has reaffirmed her commitment to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls by addressing poverty and eliminating barriers that stand in the way.

The Minister of Women Social Development & Community (MWSDC), Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o spoke on Samoa’s commitment at the 68^th United Nation (UN) Commission meeting on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in New York last week.

Mulipola shared Samoa’s Pathway for Development which emphasizes the importance of human development and critical social issues which saw the launch and implementation of the District Development Program under the first ever District Development Policy Framework in 2021.

“The District Development Program (DDP) is a significant government initiative to align national and community-led development to its regional and international obligations,” she said.

She said the DDP has distributed financial and technical assistance to fifty one electoral constituencies to assist with their own community-led developments.

“It has enabled compulsory representation of women and youth in district councils across all the constituencies; with priority community level projects ranging from agriculture, fisheries, education, health, social well-being, environment and climate change to name a few,” she said

The Minister also met with members of the Federation of Women for World Peace in New York.

Mulipola also shared how Samoa advocated for a holistic and innovative approach that promotes values, customs and traditions and to accelerate progress towards women empowerment and gender equality.

“We reiterate Samoa’s commitment to uphold its responsibility to enhancing women’s economic empowerment and creating opportunities and enabling environments for women and girls to grow and realize their potential at all levels of society contributing to community and nation building and to assume leadership roles and freely participate in decision-making processes,” said Mulipola.

Mulipola highlighted the Samoan proverb “E au le Ina’ilau a Tama’itai,” during the celebration of International Women’s Day which emphasizes the invaluable contributions by women if they are given the opportunities to excel and exemplify as leaders, at all levels.

The Minister’s speech went well with the call from UNCSW for stronger commitment by member countries for economic empowerment of women on the theme “Accelerating the Achievements of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of all Women and Girls, by Addressing Poverty and Strengthening Institutions and Financing with a Gender.”

The meeting was attended by more than 100 member countries and Mulipola led Samoa’s delegation comprising of Mataia Meritiana Fepuleai Tanuvasa, Sauoaiga Autagavaia Olive Kaio, Matilda Tile Bartley and Dorothy Anetone.

Members of the Pacific Allied Council of (Women) Inspires Faith Ideals Concerning All (P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A Inc.) met with Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o on the second day of the UNCSW meeting.