International Women's Day 2024

Statement by the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau, Mr Themba Kalua

On the occasion of the 2024 International Women’s Day 

8 March 2024

• Reverend Sione Taungakava
• Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Women Community and Social Development, Ana Leau Vaasa
• The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson 
• Your excellencies, members of the Diplomatic Corps
• Heads of Government Ministries
• Women in Agriculture
• Ladies and gentlemen

Talofa, Talofa Lava.  Malo le soifua maua ma le lagi e mama.

Let me begin by extending heartfelt wishes on behalf of the United Nations system to all the women here and throughout Samoa for a happy International Women’s Day.

Today, Samoa stands united with the rest of the world in commemorating International Women’s Day, officially designated by the United Nations in 1977, though its roots trace back to the early 1900s.

You may be asking, why is this day significant?

Firstly, it is an invaluable opportunity to recognise and celebrate women’s achievements and strides towards gender equality. 

I extend my most profound admiration to the remarkable women of Samoa who continue to play pivotal roles in politics, government, and critical economic sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, private enterprises, churches, civil society, communities, and families.

Samoa serves as a beacon of progress in the region, achieving notable milestones in women’s representation in public and political spheres. The election of Samoa’s first female Prime Minister in 2021 and the adoption of quotas ensuring women’s representation in Parliament are monumental achievements. Women now hold key positions in government, including cabinet ministers and senior management roles.

I commend the Government of Samoa for its steadfast commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. The ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1994 and subsequently, the enactment of various laws, policies, and strategies, such as the National Prevention Framework and Action Plan to combat violence against women and children, underscore this commitment.

Secondly, International Women’s Day is a platform to advocate for more action to address the challenges women and girls still face.

In Samoa, available statistics reveal that 37.5% of women have reported experiencing physical or sexual violence, or both, by an intimate partner in their lifetime. 

There has been encouraging progress in labour participation. For example, the number of women employed in agriculture has risen by almost 20 per cent, from 19% in 2019 to 38% in 2023. 

Similarly, in the fishing industry, the proportion of women employed has increased by 8% over the same period, from 18.5% to 26.7%. However, genuine equality means a 50-50 representation, and there's still work to be done.

Enhancing women’s representation in politics and decision-making is crucial and must be promoted. Research consistently shows that women’s political participation leads to tangible gains for democracy, including more excellent responsiveness to people’s needs and enhanced cooperation across party lines.

Acknowledging the persistent barriers women face in the agricultural sector is crucial to addressing their challenges. Women engaged in agriculture often have limited access to essential resources like credit and markets. 

Their underrepresentation in decision-making processes is a stark reality, compounded by traditional gender roles that confine them to specific, often unpaid or less visible, agricultural activities. 

To overcome these hurdles, there is a pressing need to empower women in agriculture through capacity-building initiatives. Simultaneously, promoting financial inclusion and facilitating women's access to markets will amplify their voices in the agricultural sector and create a more equitable and prosperous society. I commend FAO’s technical support in collaboration with other UN agencies.

Thirdly, International Women's Day is a great reminder that women's rights are human rights. It underscores the interconnectedness between the two, emphasising that a society's progress is incomplete without recognising and safeguarding the rights and dignity of every woman. We must continue eliminating discrimination, empowering women, and building a world where everyone enjoys fundamental human rights.

This year’s theme, "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," underscores the critical role of investments in driving gender equality. We count on the government’s leadership to ensure adequate investments go to women, but this necessitates collaborative partnerships, including development partners, the private sector, academia, civil society, and the church.

Special Fa’afetai Lava to our esteemed development partners for their unwavering support of the Government of Samoa in initiatives aimed at promoting women's advancement within and beyond the agricultural sector.

The United Nations continues to support programmes such as Markets for Change, funded by the governments of Australia and New Zealand, which has dedicated resources to transform markets into safe, inclusive, and discrimination-free spaces for approximately 1500 market vendors, with 80% of them being women vendors. 

As part of our support to accelerating SDGs, the United Nations is working with the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development to design a gender equality and women’s empowerment programme.

Ladies and gentlemen, the fight against gender inequality demands the active participation of men and boys as allies. I encourage my Samoan brothers to be part of the solution and invest in women in their organisations, communities, families, and churches.

Investing in women is both a moral imperative and a smart economic choice. Evidence worldwide indicates that countries or societies that invest in women are more prosperous and peaceful. 

The aspirations in the 2050 strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, the Pathway for the development of Samoa, and the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved if half of the population is left behind.

As we mark International Women’s Day in 2024, let us reaffirm our commitment to investing in women and accelerating progress towards gender equality. Together, we can create a society where every Samoan woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to a more just and equitable world.

Let us heed the wisdom of the Samoan proverb—E au le ina’ilau a tama’ita’i—that women can achieve anything; they are strong, capable, powerful, and resilient.

Manuia le Aso Fa’apitoa mo Tina ma Tama’ita’i o le Lalolagi (Happy International Women’s Day)

Faafetai tele lava!