Ten Pacific Island countries plan to develop the role of women officers within their corrections service.

Representatives from Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Palau, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and Kiribati are at a regional conference in Suva to make this a reality.

The purpose of this conference, at the Holiday Inn, is also to promote regional dialogue amongst women in the Corrections services. Police chief administration officer, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Unaisi Vuniwaqa, was the first speaker at the conference yesterday.

A/ACP Vuniwaqa encouraged women to be role models in their duties.

“For us in the Pacific, we cannot change overnight, but we as women will need to initiate positive changes in a position of leadership to those that rely on our services.

“We as women need to take care of our own selves first before we lead those who are under our command.”

Papua New Guinea (PNG) Corrections Superintendent, Margaret Ganet was inspired meeting her colleagues from the Pacific.

“I have been serving as a lady corrections officer for 39 years,” Mrs Ganet said.

“Being part of a profession, which is dominated by males is tough, but it helps us as women to strive for the best,”she said.

The conference ends on Thursday.

Feedback: litia.cava@fijisun.com.fj