08 March 2018 | Gender.
Message from President Danny Faure
on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2018
Today, we join people all over the world to celebrate the remarkable role, contributions, and achievements of women everywhere, and reaffirm our commitment to gender equality worldwide.
This year, Seychelles’ theme for International Women’s Day is “Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women in Small Island Developing States”. It is a time to celebrate our women in all spheres of development.
It is also a time for reflection and a call to action.
Seychelles, as a Small Island Developing State, has made much progress in realising the rights of our women. Our Constitution, our laws, and our regulations are based on the fundamental principles of equal opportunity and respect for all human beings. In our homes, workplaces and schools, our women and girls are valued as much as our boys and men. This is an achievement that we should all be proud of.
However, there is more work to be done. The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day reminds us of the difficulties that millions of women across the world still face today. Despite the great strides made to recognise the rights, and advance the status of women and girls in various countries; gender equality is still a very relevant subject in all countries of the world, including Seychelles.
We must continue to dispel the old myths and stereotypes of a woman’s place. We must not be afraid to have an open discussion on these issues. For far too long we have used culture and tradition to justify domestic abuse and violence against women. The 2016 Gender-Based Violence Study highlights the alarming prevalence of violence against women in Seychelles. This cannot continue.
As we celebrate this International Women’s Day, I call on every Seychellois to embrace the culture of respect, shared responsibility, and tolerance that recognises the role and value of women, and men, in our homes. We all benefit from a more gender equal world. Women and men, girls and boys, we must all step up and speak out, because half of the population cannot solve a problem that affects us all.
Let us recognise that when women and girls are given greater opportunity for self-development, we are also advancing the greater development of Seychelles.
On behalf of the Government, I encourage everyone to join in celebrating International Women’s Day, as we renew our commitment to a more positive, just, and equal world. I wish all women and girls in Seychelles a Happy International Women’s Day and success in their future.
