Results for Women

Two mothers from 'Isileli, a swamp community on the western fringes of Nuku'alofa, received the biggest surprise of their lives on Monday when an hour into a community meeting about setting up a solar power project, they were selected to go and study at Barefoot College, India, for six months, to learn solar power installation, with all expenses to be paid for by the Indian government.

Recognising the importance of breast cancer awareness in Tonga, women at a Pink Fundraising Lunch on October 14 raised $6,000 pa'anga for the Tonga Breast Cancer Society.

With a theme of "Early Detection and Treatment Saves Lives" Pink October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, was launched in Nuku'alofa on October 1.

Gender equality is still not 'front and centre' in national development planning and financing, nor does it feature in high-level discussions on regional co-operation and development in the Pacific, a major meeting heard this week.

A total of 2,753 women were victims of violence in the decade 2000-09, according to Tonga Police statistics that show on average 23 women per month come to police to report an incident of physical or sexual violence; and last year four women died in domestic incidents.

Eempowering women in business by giving them the opportunities through training to start, grow and develop their businesses was the aim of a two day "Women in Business" Financial Management workshop in Nuku'alofa on April 27-28.

Six outstanding women from different walks of life in Tongatapu who despite the everyday struggle of trying to earn a living for their family had emerged successful, were applauded today with a special presentation of gift packs and money in celebration of the International Women's Day on March 8.

A special programme for the 55th Anniversary of the Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women's Association Tonga branch last week, concluded with a special programme at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall on Saturday morning. Photos by Mary Lyn Fonua

Tongan women have made submissions to the Constitutional and Electoral Commission to incorporate gender perspective into Tonga's reform process, the Deputy Director of Women's Affairs, Polotu Fakafanua-Paunga, told the 53rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women, at the United Nations in New York on March 6.