Empowering women

Ioane Burese
Saturday, July 28, 2012

THE harmonious development of men and women can be achieved by equally sharing their status,
opportunities and rights to create an impartial, equal and just social atmosphere, says Women's Minister
Dr Jiko Luveni.

She told the Clean Pacific 2012 Campaign symposium organised by the Catholic Women's League in
Lami that the government was committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goal advocating
gender equality and empowerment of women.

"We believe that when women are empowered, families, communities and the nation benefit. When we
evaluate the advancement of gender equality, we should focus on quality and not quantity.

"Gender equality does not deny the physical differences between men and women and regardless of
whether a woman is a state leader or full-time housewife, as long as she gives her best and proves her
value to the society, she deserves respect and fair treatment."

Dr Luveni gave the Catholic Women's League a computer to allow womenaccess to technology.

"I hope you will progress your efforts to achieve higher goals when the world is open to you through
information technology.

"Women should be self-supporting and learn to be independent. Depending on others will cause a woman
to lose herself."