More than 150 nominated participants representing RMI’s 24 atolls and islands came together in Majuro for the Ainikien Kora Forum (National Women's Forum).
The event was the largest national government-led gathering focused on gender equality, driven by the significant need for women and men to work equally together to ensure the nation’s sustainable development in its response and recovery from the global pandemic.
This year’s three-day event was held March 30 to April 1, at the International Convention Center in Majuro.
The RMI Ainikien Kora Forum was hosted by the RMI Government with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), through the United States Embassy Majuro, and the Pacific Community (SPC) partnership in Pacific Women Lead, funded by the Australian Government, plus SPC’s PROJECT Governance, funded by USAID. The organising committee for the event included civil society partners Women United Together Marshall Islands (WUTMI) and the Mejerik Club working with four government ministries, with the Ministry of Cultural and Internal Affairs hosting the event working with the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Office of the Chief Secretary; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and the Ministry of Education, Sports and Training.
“The purpose of this Ainikien Kora Forum is to raise awareness across all key stakeholders and national decision makers about the Marshall Islands’ regional gender equality commitments, while engaging women leaders to support the national approach to implement those commitments – we need to make them an everyday reality in the lives of Marshallese people,” said Rebecca Lorennij, Assistant Secretary and Chairperson of the planning committee from the Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs.
“There is also the need to share the agreed outcomes and recommendations from the 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women, along with ways to implement the recommendations nationally, as RMI prepares to Chair the next 15th Triennial and 8th Ministers for Women Meeting,” Mrs Lorennij explained.
The objectives of the Forum are to: share the outcomes of the 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and the 7th Meeting of the Pacific Minister for Women; prioritize Triennial outcomes and recommendations while developing an implementation plan; and start preparing for the 15th Triennial and 8th Meeting of Pacific Ministers for Women.
The program was packed full of Marshallese experts on the key priority areas of gender-based violence (GBV), women’s economic empowerment and gender-responsive climate justice. Guest speakers included prominent female chief, Leroij Esther Zedkaia of Majuro Atoll; Mr Jeremiah Knight, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy-Majuro; Peter, Kammoolol - Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs, and the keynote address by Minister Kitlang Kabua, Ministry of Education, Sports and Training.
Minister Kitlang Kabua, Ministry of Education, Sports and Training highlighted the importance of the Forum. “RMI participated in the 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and the 7th Minister for Women Meeting last year, resulting in a set of agreed priority outcomes for RMI and all participating countries across the Pacific. We commit to implementing those Triennial outcomes and, further, are proud to have been nominated as Chair to host the 15th Triennial and 8th Ministers for Women Meeting."
“As the incoming Chair, we use this Forum as an opportunity to ensure the government, our stakeholders and communities are aware of our gender equality commitments, and the need to improve coordination and communication of our efforts to ensure more equal rights and opportunities between women and men, girls and boys to help RMI progress its national strategic plan,” the Minister said.
About the Forum:
The purpose of the Ainikien Kora Forum (National Women’s Forum) is to raise awareness across all key stakeholders and national decision makers about the Marshall Islands’ regional gender equality commitments, while engaging women leaders to support the national approach to implement those commitments. Secondly, the Forum aims to share the agreed outcomes and recommendations from the 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women, along with ways to implement the recommendations nationally, as RMI prepares to Chair the next 15th Triennial and 8th Ministers for Women Meeting.