BWF 021026 Women Will Bring Independence to Bougainville - Minister Delourdes Semoso
“Women will bring independence to Bougainville,” says Hon. Delourdes Semoso, Member for North Bougainville Women and Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Minister for Health, during the official launch of the North Bougainville District Constituency Consultation Program.
The office of the North Bougainville Women launched the initiative yesterday at the North Bougainville Women’s Innovation Hub in Hahela, marking the start of a 13-day consultation tour across the region’s districts.
Addressing women leaders from the Tsitalato constituency, Minister Semoso expressed gratitude for their trust and mandate while challenging them to take active leadership as agents of change for a self-reliant Bougainville. Updating participants on the ABG’s current political trajectory, she emphasised the decisive role women must play in driving the region toward nationhood.
“We have to prepare individually, as families, and as communities,” Semoso said. “Women played a crucial role in the peace process, and women will bring independence to Bougainville.”
As Health Minister, Semoso also briefed participants on key healthcare priorities and projects, underlining that a healthy population is fundamental to an independent Bougainville.
The launch officially kicked off the 13-day consultation schedule in the Buka District, starting with Tsitalato. The program will proceed across all constituencies within the remaining 12 Districts in the North Bougainville region.
The event brought together key regional figures, including Tsitalato Community Government Chairlady Hon. Hortence Kiroha, North Bougainville Women’s Federation President Hellen Siumana, ward members, community leaders, and representatives from both the North Bougainville Women’s Office and the Bougainville Women’s Federation (BWF).
Hon. Kiroha voiced strong support for the consultation drive, urging local women to unify behind Bougainville’s political journey at the ward level.
Key Objectives of the Consultation Tour
The 13-day consultation program aims to align community-level action with the region's independence readiness mission through several core objectives:
·Awareness & Priorities: Informing communities about the North Bougainville Women’s Office projects and strategic priorities for independence.
Ward Cooperatives: Establishing 165 cooperative networks at the ward level to streamline service delivery, share information, and maximise local project benefits.
·Economic Self-Reliance: Supporting micro-enterprises, including a regional initiative where local ward cooperatives will affiliate with the North Bougainville Women Chicken Project to generate sustainable income.
·
Empowerment & Strategy: Hosting self-awareness workshops that help women reflect on their personal values, their ongoing social and economic responsibilities, and the motivations behind their votes in the 2019 independence referendum.
Throughout the one-day workshop, representatives from all nine wards in Tsitalato shared local challenges and strategic visions.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to working in unity to improve family livelihoods, strengthen community governance, and align local action with the ABG’s six-point strategies.
Comments