President Ramkalawan Calls for Investment in Women to Accelerate Progress
VICTORIA, Seychelles, President Wavel Ramkalawan has marked International Women’s Day with a message honouring the role of women and girls in the social and economic life of Seychelles. In his message, the President noted that ‘International Women’s Day honours a truth we live every day, that women and girls are essential to the success and progress of our society’. He added that promoting opportunities for women and girls strengthens security, stability and prosperity for everyone, and that in order to overcome the greatest challenges of the time, the country cannot afford to leave half the population behind.
‘Investing in women is what we are celebrating today,’ the President stated. He explained that this year Seychelles commemorates International Women’s Day under the United Nations theme ‘Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress’. He called on citizens and institutions to heighten this voice by spreading support on social platforms using the hashtag #investinwomen. The President emphasised that investment in women is not only a question of fairness but also a strategic choice that produces tangible social and economic returns for the country as a whole.
The President’s message comes at a time when the government is rolling out a series of initiatives aimed at improving the participation of women in the labour market and in decision-making positions. Recent figures show that while Seychelles has achieved significant progress in girls’ education and in the legal and political rights of women, gaps remain in wages, in political representation, and in senior roles across both the public and private sectors. The President’s message is seen as a reminder that closing these gaps will require sustained effort from government, the private sector and civil society.
Several ministries have marked the day with their own events, including the round table at Roche Caïman hosted by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, and the reception at the Chinese embassy in St Louis. The First Lady, Linda Ramkalawan, also delivered remarks at the embassy reception, calling on Seychellois women to support, encourage and be present for one another. She noted that there is no place for envy, jealousy and spitefulness among women, and wished everyone a Happy Women’s Day.
Civil society organisations have added their voices to the call. The Seychelles Chapter of the African Women Leaders’ Network used the occasion to launch its five-year strategic plan of action, focused on six pillars covering governance, peace and security, finance and entrepreneurship, youth, agriculture and climate change, and social mobilisation. Other groups have called for more action on gender-based violence, more support for women in male-dominated sectors, and stronger measures to ensure equal pay for work of equal value. The collective message from all corners is that investing in women is the surest way to accelerate progress across every aspect of national life.
