Results for International Women's Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) puts a spotlight on the achievements of women and girls everywhere. It is the day of recognition and celebration of the strides which have been made to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. It also provides an opportunity for self-reflection on our actions (or lack thereof) as leaders, institutions, and governments, to enhance the lives of women through opportunity, inclusion and equality. Excluding women incurs massive costs.

A Commonwealth gathering has called for an end to gender inequality by 2030 so every girl can have the same opportunities as boys. Despite decades of activism and reforms, only six countries in the world give women and men equal rights to work in their law books – an increase from none about 10 years ago.

Celebrating women’s achievements and forging a more gender balanced Tonga was the focus of a luncheon to mark International Women’s Day (IWD) under the theme ‘Balance for Better’ today, 8 March, organized by the Bank South Pacific at Davina House. The Minister MAFFF said Tonga needs more women to become leaders.

Women need to work together, to meet and to network, and to review women's progress, Hon. Frederica Fatafehi Lapaha Tuita told a large gathering of women for the International Women's Day Centenary celebration held at the Queen Salote College Hall in Nuku'alofa on March 8.

Encourage women to reach their highest potential, Joyce Mafi, the Governor of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga, urged yesterday in noting the importance of investing in Tongan women and valuing their work. "The challenge is for the man to support us women so that we can achieve and have a fair share of the positions in government and other areas, just as women have their share of the social life in the home," she said.

This year's International Women's Day focuses on investing in women and girls. Abundant evidence shows that when women are given an opportunity to express their potential, health indicators rapidly improve for themselves, for households and for communities. Investment in women and girls not only contributes to socioeconomic progress, but is also an investment in health development.

"Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you," the Tonga Minister responsible for Women's Affairs, Hon. Cecil Cocker, told a Prayer Breakfast that was held on March 8, 2006, to mark International Women's Day in Tonga.