STAFF of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources participating in a two-day workshop that opens in Honiara today are expected to return to their respective work stations equipped with knowledge on gender issues.
Participants which includes staff from the Aquaculture, Project Management, and Provincial Divisions were taken through different sessions conducted by facilitators both from Honiara and Fiji SPC office using a virtual platform.
Deputy Director Policy Planning, Ms. Ronnelle Panda in her opening remarks said a survey conducted in June this year has found that most officers in the Ministry do not know much about gender and related gender issues thus the need for this workshop.
“Participants are expected to understand the importance of gender in relation to their work with communities at the end of this workshop,” she said.
Ms. Panda told the participants that Solomon Islands National Development Strategy clearly spells out the need for equal distribution of development benefits across the whole of the Solomon Islands including improved gender equality and support to the disadvantaged and vulnerable.
“To achieve this goal we must be inclusive of everyone in our communities so that women and the marginalised are not left out on opportunities to improve and benefit from fisheries management and livelihoods,” she said.
She pointed out that the Solomon Islands National Fisheries Policy 2019-2029 also recognised gender equality in its Inshore Fisheries component.
“This recognition is for both men, women, and youths – to have equal access to market and other opportunities to improve their livelihoods,” she adds.
In addition, the marginalized and disadvantaged groups can also access and benefit from inshore and inland fisheries.
Ms. Panda said the workshop has provided participants with an opportunity to learn about gender concepts and apply them in their work.
The workshop is made possible through support from development partners including SPC, PEUMP project, Pathways (ANCORS) WorldFish and Mekem Strong Solomon Islands Fisheries (MSSIF) while workshop facilitators were both local and virtual from overseas. The Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs officers also contributed to the workshop.
-MFMR Press
