Radewagen meets with PACIFICA women leaders
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Delegate Uifa’atali Amata Radewagen (R-A. Samoa) recently met with the PACIFICA women leaders, who presented Radewagen with their Wellbeing Report published recently at the close of 2023, which highlights the voices of Pacific women and girls in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
“I appreciate this good meeting with these influential women leaders and their important work on behalf of the women of the Pacific,” said Radewagen. “This excellent report relies directly on the input of Pacific women, and is a helpful look at these women’s lives today and how they tie closely to islander heritage. Although focused on New Zealand, this insight has application and much in common with our experiences throughout the Pacific Islands.”
During a 2018 visit to Auckland, Radewagen gave a keynote speech to PACIFICA as well. Their group name is an acronym for Pacific Allied (Women’s) Council Inspires Faith Ideals Concerning All. The report is based on available data viewed in context with an online survey of 173 Pacific women around New Zealand and it presents their voices, their challenges, and factors in how to support them.
The survey findings describe three areas of ongoing challenges: identity in navigating between their Western surroundings and their cultural values and obligations; biases they face being Pacific and female; and related socioeconomic hardship. The report is bolstered by dozens of direct quotes from the survey respondents, and calls for continued development of resources, opportunities, skills, seats at the table, equity, and efforts to highlight Pacific women leaders. It stresses reliance on the strengths within the Pacific community, such as deep cultural identity, Pacific representation and role models, while future aspirations include better platforms for Pacific women, a seat at the table in decision-making roles, unity in empowering each other, and improved mentoring, resources and funding.
The full report is available at https://www.pacifica.org.nz/ (scroll down at the front page of the website to access the report). (PR)
Delegate Uifa’atali Amata Radewagen (R-A. Samoa) pictured between PASIFICA National president Repeka Lelaulu and Lelei Lelaulu, with Rev. Alitasi Aoina-Salesa, Fabiara Masoe, Lupesina Koro, Anahila Kanongata’a, Anne Fitisemanu, Pania Schwenke, Helen Kareti, Marina Taylor, Tapu Elia, and Eseta Rasmussen.
-CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
