International Women’s Day-Seychellois women are models for the world |09 March 2006

“If today, we stand as one of the proudest nations in the region, and the world, in terms of women’s empowerment, it is because of our belief in the ideal that women are as important as men.”

These were the words of the principal secretary for social affairs, Marie-Antoinette Alexis, while officially launching a photo exhibition at the National Library Wednesday March 8.

The two-day exhibition, organised by the Ministry of Health and Social Services in collaboration with the National Gender Steering Committee, is part of activities organised to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day which was celebrated Wednesday.

Ms Alexis said that if today Seychellois women can be ministers, members of parliament, lawyers, doctors, bus drivers, footballers, weightlifters and what ever they want to be, it is because the government values the Seychellois women and believes in them.

The exhibition, which depicts 30 years of Seychellois women’s participation in the decision making process and their role at all levels of our society, also provides a unique opportunity for everyone to appreciate and celebrate the decisions that women make everyday in their lives and in the lives of others.

“It is about celebrating and being thankful for all Seychellois women for being the beautiful and unique individuals that they are. This acknowledgement of appreciation makes no distinction, because all women, no matter who they are, where they are, what position they occupy, or what role they play, they all matter and they are all important,” Ms Alexis said.

She said that the exhibition is a testimony to what we are celebrating today because women have been and continue to be prominent in decision-making here.

“In all aspects of life as highlighted by the exhibition, women have been instrumental in bringing forth their contribution and creativity, in making a positive difference in the lives of their families, and in the development of their communities and country,” she said.

To fully appreciate what women bring to the world, Ms Alexis said that we only have to look at Seychelles’ reality, where the majority of Seychellois women are successfully achieving their triple roles – not only as mothers, but also workers and community participants. She added that as a country and society, Seychelles are presented as a model for the rest of the world.

Ms Alexis said that as celebrated by the international community every year, the International Women’s Day allows us to think of past struggles and victories, of present successes and challenges and of future opportunities and reward.

Ms Alexis noted that today, in Seychelles, 86% of our women are in full-time employment.

Stating that women contribute to the backbone of our society, PS Alexis acknowledged that Seychellois women make up 73% of all teaching professional and 68% of all health professionals while in the public sector alone, women constitute 63% of the total labour force although, she said, there is still room for improving the number of women at the executive and decision making level.

She said she is encouraged to note that things are changing and as at September last year, the Department of Administration recorded that women account for 45% of the total number of employees at senior officer level including director and director general compared to 55% for men.

Stating that women can also be seen as decision makers in parliament, she added that today Seychelles is one of the few countries in the SADC region, apart from South Africa and Mozambique, that have nearly reached the 30% target of women in parliament.

The ceremony was followed by a slide show depicting women in various roles in their everyday lives.

Then, the Minister for Health and Social Services, Vincent Meriton; Speaker of the National Assembly, Francis MacGregor; Leader of Government Business, Patrick Herminie and other members of the National Assembly; as well as women from different organisations had the opportunity to view the exhibition.