Women leaders and women’s organizations were recognized at an event celebrating International Women’s Day under the theme ‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a CoViD-19 world”, today at the Fa'onelua Centre in Nuku’alofa.

The event also launched the first ever Tonga National Service Delivery Protocol to address violence against women.

The protocol document provides strategies and procedures for service providers to deliver assistance required by victims of gender-based violence.

In his keynote address, Prime Minister Hon Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa said in Tonga, there is a genuine political will for ensuring gender equality in Tonga to address gender based violence and to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

He acknowledged women for their contribution to the informal economy through handicraft development, and marketing, and politically as heads and deputy heads of government ministries.

“For years now, women in educational scholarships rank higher than that of men. And women’s contribution in the health sector as front-line supporters also supersede that of their male counterparts.”

Australia

Australian High Commissioner HE Adrian Morrison also spoke at the event acknowledging the contribution of women leaders, women health workers, women quarantine staff, women scientists and technicians, women’s organisations, and women holding families together, for their efforts to help us all through COVID-19.

“If there is a silver lining to the dark cloud which is COVID, it is that it has allowed women to demonstrate their knowledge, their skills, their courage in leading the COIVD response and recovery effort.”

He also acknowledged Tonga’s Minister for Health, Hon. Dr ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu, a woman leading Tonga’s response to the CoViD-19 pandemic.

“The Minister is also on the Executive Board of the World Health Organization, a position of great influence allowing her to represent not only Tonga but also allowing her to advocate for small states.”

UN Women, Fiji Multi-Country Office representative, Sandra Bernklau, also joined in the event from Fiji via zoom.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and attended by Hon. Frederica Tuita Filipe, Japan’s Ambassador Designate HE Mr Munenaga Kensaku, Minister for Health Hon Dr ‘Amelia Tu’i’pulotu, and guests.