The 11th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting (WAMM) was held from 7-8 September 2016 in Apia, hosted by the Government of Samoa.
The main theme of the meeting is ‘Gender equality through sustainable development in an inclusive commonwealth’, with key sub-themes including gender and climate change, women’s leadership, violence against women and girls, and intergenerational partnerships for sustainable development.
The key objectives of the 11th WAMM are:
- Discussing proposed Commonwealth priorities on gender equality and women’s rights in the period of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
- Exploring the critical emerging issues on gender equality and women’s empowerment to promote inclusive development and democracy;
- Re-positioning the Commonwealth and its commitments to gender equality and women’s rights.
In an interview with the Chief Executive for the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development, Afioga Naea Beth Onesemo-Tuilaepa Naea, talked about the significance of this meeting and the role of women in any part of society.
“The commonalities that we have with other Commonwealth countries is our inherited history of Parliamentary democracy that we adhere our work with to ensure the increase in the number of women in decision making, in any part of society in order for women’s voices to be heard,” said Naea.
Naea also highlighted the goals set at the global level as in Sustainable Development Goals, the Pacific Road map and the Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS) which are being discussed during this meeting.
“Samoa wants to see the clarification of an integrated agreement in the goals and strategies that have already been set and to work together with other countries of the Commonwealth in achieving these goals.”
Other issues heard at the meeting today include Gender Equality and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, gender and climate change, women’s leadership in the Pacific states and Caribbean small island states.
