I wanted to share this report sent to me by Jane Pritchard, Board Member ICW and chair of the Regional Seminar and Training Workshop for the Asia Pacific Region held November 14 - 18, 2011, in Nadi, Fiji.
Dr Monthip Sriratana Tabucanon, who prepared the report, is an ICW Board member and Vice-President of NCW Thailand. She was elected President of the ICW-CIF Asia Pacific Regional Council at this meeting, for the next 3 year.
ICW-CIF-ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL SEMINAR AND TRAINING WORKSHOP (APRC V)
Monday 14th November –Friday November 18, 2011
“Progress for Women is Progress for All”
The working committee of THE NATIONAL COUNCIL WOMEN FIJI have done themselves pround in organising the very successful SEMINAR & TRAINING WORKSHOP held in Nadi, Fiji, from 14th November to 18th November 2011.
A measure of their success was the attendance Dr. Jiko Luveni, Minister for Social Welfare, & Poverty Alleviation Fiji, at all the sessions of the Seminar.
Further confirmation of their success was the heartening presence of many young women from different parts of the world attending the Seminar. A few of these young women presented research papers from their PhD studies.
The result was an even balance of serious work, where outcomes were formulated, and social activities, where friendships were renewed and new friendships formed.
It was their respectful and tone-setting practice to open each day’s Seminars with a prayer.
Speakers from overseas and Fiji inspired the 35 women from 15 countries, in addition to the 70 women from Fiji, who attended this Seminar and Training Workshop
The workshops during the four days were lively with, at times, robust but good-mannered debates. The underlining theme was helping, guiding, teaching and creating strategies for empowering women to seek ways to better themselves and their family.
Speakers from overseas as well as local experts spoke on the following topics:
· Assisting Women in Agriculture as Change makers and Entrepreneurs. MDGs, Women Contributing to Sustainable Global Economy- World Reports. Recognising and Putting Value on Women’s Contributions to Economic Production.
· Women from different countries presented reports on issues ranging from: Women and Sustainable Economy, (Thailand) Women in Fisheries and Constraints to Development – Environmental Sustainability, (Papua New Guinea), Enhancing Sustainable Economy( Korea), and Environmental Protection ( Taiwan)
Other speakers spoke on Women, Agriculture & Business, Climate Change, Science & Technology
Christine Knock and Elizabeth Newman gave a very clear explanation of the role of ICW Standing Committees.
Group discussions agreed that the common link was women helping women to better themselves. The Adoption of the Seminar Statement was well received.
Also at this Seminar The Installation of ICW-CIF APRC Board of Officers 2011-2014 was carried out.
STATEMENT SUMMARY FROM THE SEMINAR & TRAINING WORKSHOP
Theme: Progress for Women Progress for All
SubTheme: Women in Agriculture- Building a Sustainable Future
Workshop Title: Women, Food Security and Health
Statement: Women need a Strong Voice.
Women from 20 countries worldwide attended the ICW-CIF Asia –Pacific Regional Seminar in Nadi, Fiji exchanged experiences in both traditional and modern ways of making progress for women as agricultural producers.
Within the theme “ Women in Agriculture- Building a sustainable Future” it was agreed that women’s organizations need more financial support to set up communication through websites and social media like Facebook. A “Young Women’s Asia-Pacific Network will be formed to involve more young women in taking an interest in assisting women to increase food production in the face of the rise in global population.
Training and leadership workshops with possibilities for more networking should be funded to ensure more women are in political positions and on business boards
Women must play a key role in ensuring sustainability in food security and economic production. The importance of recognizing and putting value on women’s economic contribution to agriculture and entrepreneurial activity will be essential to maintaining rural women’s livelihoods.
Women farmers in the region are suffering major impacts from climate changes especially through prolonged droughts, unseasonable rainfall and severe weather events. Rises in sea level threaten several Pacific Island nations where the area available for crop cultivation is already diminished.
Challenges to the empowerment of women in agriculture are the lack of funding for resources, training programmes, educational workshops as the local level and leadership training for women to be included in decision making level of marketing and policy development.
Because many farmers in Asia-Pacific region are older women mentoring to build an interest in young women will be essential. Developing stronger linkages for women to Ministries of agriculture, partnerships with agencies and other organizations is necessary.
Sharing micro-financing and greater availability of small loans will enable women farmers to increase their productivity. Coastal fishing has much potential to raise the productivity of women in remote areas. The role of women in stimulating tourism through traditional cooking is encouraged
The result of this Seminar can be the start for further cooperation of women and men in agriculture agencies, national and regional organizations in daily life in the Asia-Pacific Region and worldwide.
More information: Mrs. Jane Prichard ( chair of conference)
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