Foreign Affairs Minister Lenora Qereqeretabua highlighted the importance of female leaders in conflict zones during her participation at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Apia, Samoa. She noted that, despite ongoing conflicts in various regions, many women leaders are communicating with one another, which reflects the supportive and empowering role women play in the Pacific.
While speaking at a women’s forum, Ms. Qereqeretabua pointed out that women across the Commonwealth face similar challenges and emphasized the need for mutual encouragement to elevate one another into leadership positions.
She remarked, “The fact that women leaders in conflict areas are communicating is uplifting. It demonstrates that despite the differences between nations, women can still engage with each other, even from countries in conflict.”
Ms. Qereqeretabua stressed the importance of empowering younger women to take on leadership roles, stating, “Learning from one another is crucial, as various women in different sectors can foster discussions that enable other women to occupy the spaces that older generations might want to vacate.”
She concluded by reiterating the significance of cross-border dialogue among women, emphasizing that it is heartening to see women engaging with their counterparts in nations with which they may have conflicts.