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Virtual meeting on Commonwealth Ministers for Women’s Affairs and Gender and Development on Covid-19 |05 September 2020

Virtual meeting on Commonwealth Ministers for Women’s Affairs and Gender and Development on Covid-19

PS Marie-Josée Bonne (right) pictured with director general Jane Larue during the video conference

PS Bonne represents Seychelles

 Family affairs department principal secretary Marie-Josée Bonne on Thursday took part in the 'Virtual Meeting of Commonwealth Ministers for Women's Affairs and Gender and Development on Covid-19' on behalf of Minister Mitcy Larue.

The meeting was presided by the secretary general of the Commonwealth Secretariat Baroness Patricia Scotland. The objectives of the meeting were to discuss the societal and economic challenges faced by Commonwealth member countries during the pandemic, discuss the impact of Covid-19 on gender-based violence and climate change and also how to move forward together in the new normal times.

During her intervention, PS Bonne spoke about the various assistance extended towards women and girls during the current circumstances as Covid-19 has greatly impacted Seychelles’ employment landscape especially within the tourism sector. She mentioned the different mechanisms in place such as Financial Assistance for Job retention (FA4JR), Seychelles Employment Transition Scheme (Sets), the Unemployment Relief Scheme (URS) and internship programme to cater for new graduate entrants.

“Between March and August, 54% of women were assisted with welfare; 42% were assisted with welfare due to unemployment, and 66% of women assisted with food assistance in the districts,” PS Bonne said. She added that “from July to August 76% of women were assisted with part housing rentals for those who cannot afford to pay their full rent”.

“Only this week, a 25% reduction on monthly housing payments for the next 16 months i.e. till December 2021 has been made available for those in social housing.”

The meeting also encouraged member states to address lessons learnt as a result of Covid-19. “As a country highly dependent on importation for food security, the pandemic has shown the importance of producing locally. The rising cost of living has forced families to become more self-sufficient. Families are now venturing into growing their own garden produce with our “Adapt, Adopt and Apply” national campaign encouraging people to modify their lifestyle.”

Seychellois women also won accolades despite the pandemic, an honorary mention was made to the Governor of the Central Bank, Caroline Abel named Best Central Bank Governor of the Year in Africa last Wednesday.

Aside to Seychelles, over 60 high level representatives from Kenya, Rwanda, Barbados, Spain, South Africa, Jamaica, Bangladesh, United Kingdom Australia, Cameroon, Mauritius, Guyana, Canada Bahamas and Nigeria Grenada took part in the meeting.

 

Press release from the department of family affairs

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