A provincial leader in Solomon Islands says women must not be supressed in their efforts to hold leadership roles.
The Premier of Central Islands Province, Stanley Manetiva, was addressing a week-long workshop on Transformational Leadership, Gender Equality and Women in Development at the provincial capital of Tulagi.
He says the government, state authorities and churches must not suppress women in their efforts to provide new social structures and legislation.
Mr Manetiva says this is especially true when women aspire to become leaders and participants in decision making bodies.
He says women play important roles in society and must be given respect for aspiring to share leadership with men.
The premier called on women to support those who will contest seats in the National Parliament and Provincial Assemblies.
Thirty women from six of the country's nine provinces attended the European Union funded workshop.
