International Women's Day is an important global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements and contributions of women.
This year globally, International Women’s Day is marked under the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technological for gender equality”.
The digital age is bringing unprecedented opportunities to improve the lives of women and girls around the world, and their access to digital networks, platforms, and technologies can sometimes be lifesaving.
For the Solomon Islands and most developing countries, it is precisely this digital gender gap that isolated women and particularly rural women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The representation of voices from rural communities was neglected in the transition to holding conversations online on digital platforms since many women did not have access to digital forums.
Among the gains women have made, in gender mainstreaming, gender-sensitive policies, gender-inclusive programs, and gender frameworks and legislation, which ensure that women’s voices are heard, the lack of implementation continues to compound the losses and impedes progress.
If the Solomon Islands is to truly advance the agenda of Women, then we must go beyond simply having women advocating for women. To effect lasting change, allies, which must include men, need to advocate, and make space for women.
News Desk