Pacific Women Mediators Network representatives are at the SIDS4Conference in Antigua & Barbuda 🇦🇬

"We are together here to check on the pulse of the process particularly in this time and context"

#SIDSFeminists are organising together strengthening cross regional solidarity to ensure transformative action.

This weekend we're gearing up for the Gender Equality Forum which aims to catalyse multistakeholder efforts to progress goals of gender equality and women’s rights  in all small island developing states.

"We need to learn from the implementation challenges of #SAMOAPathway" - says  Ambassador Said of Palau, the incoming chair of AOSIS who brought insights on the #SIDS4 Outcomes Document negotiations as well as the need to recognise that the 10 year plan of action which will be a key outcome of the #SIDS4CONFERENCE.

Ambassador Said was speaking on a panel at the Gender Equality Forum that got underway today that addressed linkages with a range of multilateral processes including COP, the  upcoming Summit of the Future as well as the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action: "we need to ensure women are present in (COP) negotiations by providing services such as child care" she suggested as a way to address the gaps.

In the opening session today Prime Minister of Samoa Hon. Dr. Fiame Naomi Mataafa called for #SIDSspecific solutions to address the unmet goals of gender equality.

This included sustainable financing for gender equality, as well as economic empowerment of women: "Gender based violence impedes gender equality We need to stop the violence before it even starts - to make SIDS a safe healthy and equitable place for all women and girls, we need to address the root causes"

This was reiterated by President Hilda Heine of the Marshall Islands: "Women's economic security is a vital GBV prevention measure"