“Gentlemen, this is our fight too” — President Simina delivers keynote address at FSM Women’s Conference

Tofol, Kosrae – On November 27th, H.E. President Wesley W. Simina and First Lady Ancelly Simina joined participants from throughout the nation in kicking off the 9th FSM Women’s Conference in Kosrae State, where President Simina delivered the keynote address. Gathering under the theme “A Decade In Review: Embracing our Achievements”, the festive gathering brought together women from all four states and their primary state women’s organizations, including the Pohnpei Women’s Association, the Chuuk Women’s Council, the Yap Women’s Association, state and national government representatives, traditional leaders and key partners, among the co-hosts and co-organizers of the Kosrae Women’s Association. Speaking alongside President Simina during the opening ceremony were T.H. Governor Tulensa Palik as well as H.E. Jennifer Johnson, US Ambassador to the FSM and H.E. Jo Cowley, Australian Ambassador to the FSM, where they both reaffirmed their dedication to supporting the FSM’s goals in advancing gender equality. In President Simina’s address, he opened by stating “I want to start by saying that I am not only here as your President, but as your strong supporter. I recognize the fact that true equality requires all of us, not just half the population. Gentlemen, this is our fight too. We must stand together in unity, not as spectators, but as active participants in this transformative journey towards gender equality.” The conference will feature panels and discussions on ending gender-based violence (GBV), developing health standard operation procedures (SOPs), consulting on the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Policy, impacts of climate change and women’s economic empowerment – all of which will culminate in an outcomes document produced by the end of the week. Another hope of the conference is to re-organize and revive the FSM Women’s Association as the national umbrella for all women’s groups. President Simina closed by encouraging everyone to engage with one another, stating, “Ladies – and gentlemen, your stories, experiences, and ideas are not just valuable—they are necessary. We are all here to listen and learn from you, and to use the outcomes of this conference to guide our way forward.” He concluded with “in the tapestry of our matrilineal society and Micronesian culture, women are the threads that hold it all together. And for that, I thank you, and wish you all fruitful discussions during this 9th FSM National Women’s Conference, which I hereby now declare open.”