A non-government organization in Samoa wants to see more involvement by women at the village and national level in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President of the Samoa Victims Support Group, Siliniu Lina Chang made the call as she highlighted contributions by women in their families and villages.
The Samoa Observer quotes her saying women must and should have the opportunity to play a full role in shaping the pivotal decisions being made at the village and national level as communities respond to the pandemic.
An analysis by the research arm of the ANZ Bank last year put the figure of unemployed women at over 4,500.
Unemployed nofotane women or those living with spouses’ families, have been the target of S.V.S.G. programs promoting women’s economic empowerment.
Siliniu said that five years ago in 2016, thousands of unemployed nofotane women survivors of violence, who sought help with their organisation, were equipped with the tools to challenge their very low self-esteem, their marginalised status, and their tolerance of violence as the norm.
“These women were trained in livelihood skills while encouraging them to see their own worth, strength, and purpose, which was not an easy task,” she said.
She said that these women rose to challenges; they have chosen to be empowered, while still maintaining their motherly roles in the homes towards their children and their husbands.
“Only this time, they are more confident of their worth, strength and purpose,” she said. “They became breadwinners for their families.”
Siliniu said the socio-economic progress for the nofotane women is very important to highlight and this is given the COVID-19 pandemic and its global socio-economic implications on a devastated humanity.
“If there is a time where accelerated action for gender parity is called for, it is here and now.’’
