The Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (M.W.C.S.D.) has highlighted an improvement in women empowerment for Samoa. 

The 14th Triennial Conference for Pacific Women is currently being held virtually due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and for Samoa, it is being held at the Taumeasina Island Resort.

The meeting discussions were on achievements and what each country has done in the past three years towards promoting gender equality, advancing women empowerment and what has been done to end violence against women. 

The C.E.O. of the M.W.C.S.D, Afamasaga Faaiuga Mulitalo told the Samoa Observer in an interview on Tuesday that over the years, there have been a lot of women elevated to Assistant Chief Executive Officer (A.C.E.O) positions and quite a few female C.E.O.s in both the Government Ministries and the private sector.

"And also in our villages, there has been an increase in the number of women matai. There are some villages that have allowed women to become matai but before it was not the case," Afamasaga said.

She added that with school results, more girls have taken the top ranks in secondary schools.

"And now recently with our election there has been you know more women compared to the last Parliament," Afamasaga said.

Afamasaga is of the view that Samoa is slowly achieving positive results, adding that there have also been positive results in terms of economics as more women are into agricultural development, fishing activities and are also engaged in making handicrafts, as well as engaging in fine mat programmes as another avenue for economic benefits. 

The theme of the conference was "Our ocean, our heritage, our future - Empowering all women in the Blue Pacific Continent".

According to Afamasaga, it clearly reflects where we come from as Pacific people and that we should be proud of our oceans, resources and what God has given us.

She said we should also be proud of our heritage and where we come from. 

Looking towards the future, there is a need to focus on what remains to be done, and according to the Chief Executive, to continue the drive to promote gender equality, continue the drive to end violence against women and also looking for opportunities to further develop women whether it is economic empowerment or social development.