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“I believe the spotlight “After [Tropical Cyclone] “For us in the humanitarian “For women in Vanuatu,
should shine on the Gita, I had realised that sector, it’s important that women’s peace and security
leadership because women protection and the right to these human security is means safe shelters and
Sustaining Peace is Inclusive
with disabilities can also life and the basic necessities extended to the humanitarian disasters, which affect
not living in fear of being
provide assistance and be must be immediate and sector that we are working in displaced. Women are at the
first responders in disasters urgent for the people. We because women are always food, water, health and
frontline of these disasters
and Inter-Generational
and for us, when we’re
because they understand can’t stop the natural disaster affected by so many disasters other insecurities.
their networks and their but we can arm ourselves and we have to look at the looking at protection with
communities better. As with knowledge on better new and emerging issues However, despite the
dignity, we’re looking at
by femLINKpacific
actually being confident at
women with disability, we preparedness. We must that affects the lives of adoption of the plan,
only need the appropriate include women and young women in the Pacific region being at the frontline and
support mechanisms to women in the discussion. and disasters are one of the lack of dedicated
being at the humanitarian
lead us to providing that After Gita, I saw a lot of the them so we have to look at resources to the women,
decision-making spaces
assistance that’s needed on key decision-makers were the humanitarian sector” because if you are at the
It’s time to make the table bigger if we want to build on the legacy
frontline, you’re wanna lead
the ground” – Luisa Mana, Fiji men” – Vanessa Heleta, – Josephine Teakeni, Vois peace and security agenda
of the women’s movement in sustaining peace in the Pacific. This
National Council for Disability Talitha Project, Tonga Blong Mere, Solomon Islands. - in particular prevention,
confidently and lead the
Persons, Fiji
community towards safety
means bringing in young women and empowering them to step dialogue and mediation
and dignity” – Yasmine
into leadership spaces that haven’t always been welcoming to - has resulted in the
Bjournum, Sistah magazine,
Vanuatu
women in general. envisaged collaboration
“Creating the space is the key for young women,” says Vanessa between a Pacific regional
Heleta, Executive Director of the Talitha Project. network of women peace
builders with government
“Bring them all together, mobilise them and then give them the officials including in regional inter-governmental processes.
necessary knowledge. Let them come up with the solutions,
because only they know what they’re going through and only they Additionally, while women, peace and security action plans have
can create solutions,” Heleta explains. been adopted in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands, it is not
clear whether resources are available to integrate the plans into
Other times, space can look like a quiet meeting room filled with security sector and foreign policy plans or to provide the resources
young women who often reach out to other young women. needed to ensure women’s civil society networks can contribute to
“If you want to create a space, for example, where young women implementation as well as being the much-needed accountability
can just come and talk to somebody, we need to pay for that space,” oversight for such plans. But we continue to drive a transformative
says Adi Vasulevu, Executive Director of Transcend Oceania. agenda for gender inclusive conflict prevention and human security.
In the few ‘spaces’ that are open to women, young women are Women’s peace activists with civil society partners through the
almost invisible. Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC)
Pacific network, for example, have continued to shed a light on the
“I think the changes that are really needed are for young women’s resolution as well as work to localise the commitments in practical
voices to be really heard,” says Sabrina Brown, Secretary of the
Vanuatu Young Women for Change (VYWC). ways.
We continue to highlight the nexus between gender equality,
But with women-led efforts in the peace-building journey often
going unnoticed, how do we then bring young people into the peace, human security, development and humanitarian response
with a focus on Participation for Prevention – not just simply
movement to understand and be part of the work of conflict
prevention? preventing the occurrence of violence at the domestic front or
within communities but tracking the indicators and root causes of
“Informed choice is what the voice is all about, to enable women violence particularly in situations of fragile peace and in response
to have those relevant and informed choices that will enable them to the impact of growing environmental insecurities including
to make those informed choices and also to empower the young intensifying disasters.
women media in my country to be able to have the skills and
knowledge to be the voice also for our country on those goals,” And as young women support the work that’s been done within the
movement, the knowledge sharing must continue.
says Josephine Teakeni, the Executive Director of Vois Blong Mere
Solomon Islands. “For me being here it’s learning from other women, it really helps
me a lot in the work that I do in getting to help other young women,”
The Pacific Regional Action Plan was progressive in its
identification of the nexus between peace and development, as well says Brown.
as United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and “Engagement is the way forward for us, more forums and platforms
humanitarian action, given our reality of dealing with the impact of the that will enable us to advocate and move on the issues of peace
slow onset of climate change, particularly the nature of intensifying building and conflict resolution,” concluded Teakeni.
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Islands Business, June 2019 17

“I believe the spotlight “After [Tropical Cyclone] “For us in the humanitarian “For women in Vanuatu,
should shine on the Gita, I had realised that sector, it’s important that women’s peace and security
leadership because women protection and the right to these human security is means safe shelters and
with disabilities can also life and the basic necessities extended to the humanitarian not living in fear of being
provide assistance and be must be immediate and sector that we are working in displaced. Women are at the
first responders in disasters urgent for the people. We because women are always frontline of these disasters
because they understand can’t stop the natural disaster affected by so many disasters and for us, when we’re
their networks and their but we can arm ourselves and we have to look at the looking at protection with
communities better. As with knowledge on better new and emerging issues dignity, we’re looking at
women with disability, we preparedness. We must that affects the lives of actually being confident at
only need the appropriate include women and young women in the Pacific region being at the frontline and
support mechanisms to women in the discussion. and disasters are one of being at the humanitarian
lead us to providing that After Gita, I saw a lot of the them so we have to look at decision-making spaces
assistance that’s needed on key decision-makers were the humanitarian sector” because if you are at the
the ground” – Luisa Mana, Fiji men” – Vanessa Heleta, – Josephine Teakeni, Vois frontline, you’re wanna lead
National Council for Disability Talitha Project, Tonga Blong Mere, Solomon Islands. confidently and lead the
Persons, Fiji community towards safety
and dignity” – Yasmine
Bjournum, Sistah magazine,
Vanuatu