Transcript
The global advocacy group also known as WEDO has been working around the world since 2009, aiming to help women involved in the environment and ecology.
Bridget Burns says when it comes to negotiations such as the pivotal United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change it is important there are many women sitting around the table to hammer out the deals.
But she says typically women are shut out so the workshop is an attempt to help establish a body of Pacific women who are able to really engage in climate change issues in the international arena.
"We wanted to make sure that for such a critical negotiation, such a critical issue, that there was capacity, support and a focus on building women's leadership so that their voices could be heard in the negotiations."
Bridget Burns says WEDO wants to foster an atmosphere where women feel comfortable in their voice and able to speak up, on an international stage, and relate their stories on how climate change is impacting on their islands and their communities.
She says WEDO believes that participation is power, knowledge is power, and it wants Pacific women to have the knowledge and the skills to act as competent negotiators.
A Cook Islands government official says Pacific women must be bold about climate change.
Melina Tuiravakai, from the Office of the Prime Minister, is one of 22 women at the workshop, which has been facilitated by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Australian Government.
Ms Tuiravakai says Pacific women must have a voice to press for urgent action on climate change.
She says the training is valuable.
"It helps them with developing their skills and diplomacy. This training is also great for giving us opportunities to learn to do drafting texts and, you know, any opportunity that you can upskill yourself we should really take advantage of it."
Another attendee from Tuvalu says such skills are vital for Pacific women.
Moira Simmons-Avafoa, from Tuvalu's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says women and children are often the hardest hit by the impacts of climate change, but have less input into decisions to combat it.
"So giving people like women, especially young women, the opportunity to be part of this training is important, so that when we go back to our countries we take back with us, the tools, the skills,, the knowledge, the information that we have learnt here and hopefully, if we are given the chance to go to some of these big meetings we can practise the tools that we have learnt."
Later this year Fiji is to co-host COP 23 - the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Germany and there are hopes that Pacific women will be able to play a significant role there.
