Ministry for Internal Affairs secretary Anne Herman says there are still challenges in the Pacific region for women.

Herman will be part of the second Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting, together with the Minister for Internal Affairs Rose Toki-Brown,  who will chair the meeting from August 31 to September 1.

On the Pacific Islands Forum social media platform, Herman said: “For me there are still challenges in our Pacific region for women. So I am a gender advocate and I am really hoping that we can see a Pacific that’s made more equal in many ways, not just in politics but in every way.”

She said opportunities for girls and boys are equal and “if I am thinking about what type of Pacific I want, for my family, my children, my people it’s really one where everybody is feeling fulfilled- knows how to access the things that give them fulfilment.”

“And also have the tools that are required to face the adversities and challenges of those days.”

The Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders meeting will be held at the PIF Secretariat in Suva, Fiji.

According to the Pacific Islands Forum, the role of the Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting is to discuss, take direct action on and advise and support leaders on integrating gender equality and social inclusion perspectives into challenges facing the Pacific, including climate change.

They are to also give recommendations to forum leaders on how to strengthen outcomes for women and girls across Forum priorities, advice on gender equality and social inclusion issues that affect forum priorities or impede regional approaches.

Ministers and representatives from Forum member countries, representatives of associated PIF members and the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) will also attend the meeting.