Solomon Islands Celebrates International Women's Day 2025 with Calls for Accelerated Action on Gender Equality

Solomon Islands marked the 2025 International Women's Day (IWD) with an opening celebration at the National Auditorium, underlining the urgent need to accelerate action for women's rights, equality, and empowerment.

The event, organized by the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children, and Family Affairs in collaboration with the National Council of Women and supported by international partners, brought together women from all walks of life to honour their contributions and address persistent challenges.

Under the theme "Accelerate Action for All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, and Empowerment," the celebration highlighted women's critical role in society and the need for faster progress in achieving gender equality.

In his official welcome remarks, Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children, and Family Affairs, Aaron Pitaqae welcomed women from urban and rural areas, including those with disabilities and special needs, and those in leadership roles across various sectors.

In his welcome remarks, Pitaqae highlighted the importance of recognizing the sacrifices and achievements of women who have paved the way for progress.

"Today, we celebrate the women of today, but we also remember the trailblazers who challenged the status quo and fought for our rights," he said. The silence was observed to honour women who have contributed significantly to gender equality but are no longer with us.

Christina Sogavare, Vice President of the National Council of Women, echoed these sentiments, urging women to celebrate their achievements and continue breaking barriers.

"You, the women of Solomon Islands, are the heartbeat of this nation. Your resilience and strength inspire future generations," she said. Christina called for inclusive leadership, stressing that women’s participation in decision-making is essential for community growth and development.

The event underscored the need for accelerated action to address the slow pace of progress in achieving gender equality.

Mr Pitaqae highlighted the Solomon Islands government’s commitment through policies like the Affirmative Action Strategy 2022-2027, which aims to increase women’s representation in leadership and decision-making. "We must ask ourselves, are we helping to accelerate action, or are we still taking our time?" he challenged the audience.

The Honorable Freda Tuki Rangirei, Minister of Women, Youth, Children, and Family Affairs, delivered a powerful keynote address underlining the importance of women’s leadership, peacebuilding, and economic empowerment.

She said that only eight women have been elected to parliament since independence in 1978, and just 17 women have served in provincial assemblies since 1981.

"We must act quickly and focus on making real, meaningful changes," she urged.

Rangire announced the launch of the Pacific Women Lead program, which is funded by the Australian government with AUD 170 million and aims to improve women’s leadership and address gender-based violence in the Pacific.

Under this initiative, the Solomon Islands will receive AUD 315,000 to support financial literacy training for rural women and combat technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

The Australian High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton, reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to gender equality, announcing a new AUD 46 million investment over three years to support women’s leadership, economic empowerment, and efforts to end violence against women.

Hilton also launched the inaugural Australia Awards Women in Leadership Award, which was presented to Lorah Kwanairara, a senior legal officer at the Family Support Centre, for her outstanding advocacy for gender equality and support for survivors of domestic violence.

In her acceptance speech, Lorah highlighted women's challenges in the Solomon Islands, including cultural and religious barriers. "We need each other’s support to accelerate action towards gender equality," she said, calling for greater collaboration between men and women to achieve this goal.

The celebration concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to create a more inclusive and equitable society. Participants were urged to challenge stereotypes, support gender equality policies, and invest in women’s education and economic empowerment.

As the Solomon Islands continues its journey toward gender equality, the 2025 International Women’s Day celebration served as a powerful reminder of women's resilience and strength and the collective effort required to ensure their rights and empowerment.

The event celebrated women’s achievements and set a clear agenda for accelerated action to address the remaining challenges.

Happy International Women’s Day to all Solomon Islands women and beyond.