The workshop was held a day before the Pohnpei Women’s Day celebration to provide a venue for women on the island who do not speak Pohnpeian.
The theme for the FSM women’s workshop was “Women’s and Family’s Roles and Responsibilities.”
The workshop was opened with a prayer from the administrator, SeNellie Singeo, and followed by welcoming and opening remarks from FSM President Manny Mori and the wife of the vice president, Shra Alik.
Mori’s remarks focused on the importance that women play in families and in the workplace and on the partnership that exists between men and women.
“The FSM government supports the improvement of women’s productivity in the workplace, at home and in the community,” he said.
He asked the participants, who mostly work for the FSM government, to help him identify and rid our government offices of any form of harassment.
“I encourage all men, women, boys and girls to work together and support each other because we equally deserve to live in dignity, employing our God-given talents, free of shame, fear and regrets,” he said.
Mrs. Alik gave opening remarks that focused on refection and change.
She asked that the conference “should be taken in a very positive attitude such that it will be one of the means that we can explore ways of support for women.”
She said “we have to work out some of the issues that we need to deal with in order to move forward in our support of our nation’s development and in weaving the integrity of the future for our children.”
She hoped that “this conference will help us open some positive discussions on how we can improve and maintain good support and relationships on the job, for better productivity, without compromising our integrity as well as mental and emotional health.”
The workshop was filled with a variety of different topics including addressing women’s issues in FSM, breast and cervical cancer, chronic disease prevention, women’s roles in response to the food crisis, women’s roles in response to the effects of climate change, violence against women, mental and emotional health for the family, and women in politics.
The FSM Public Information Office videotaped the event and will produce a DVD to be played on local television stations throughout the FSM.
