The Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s spouse Dorcas Rigathi has called for better measures in controlling land pollution for the marine economy to support women and their families.
Speaking yesterday during the First Ladies International Forum on Women’s Participation in the Blue Economy, Dorcas said a decline of the marine life spells doom for many families.
The meeting was held on the margins of the 10th Summit of the Organisation of the African Caribbean and Pacific States in Luanda, Angola, on December 9, 2022.
“We need to address land-based pollution that finds its way into the oceans and other water bodies, adopt sustainable blue economy resource exploitation practices; and enhance awareness on the need to protect and restore the natural ecosystems for posterity of our people, planet and economies,” she said.
The blue economy, she said, has been critical in reducing poverty and other forms of inequalities, adding that the sector has contributed to financial inclusion.
“For instance, through informal cooperative movements (chamas), members make weekly contribution towards savings, allowing them to access loans and receive collections of funds in a rotational manner.
This has enabled some women traders to offer credit facilities in terms fishing gear to fishermen, which ensures sustained supply of fish to meet demand,” Pastor Rigathi added.
The ripple effect of addressing key issues women in the blue economy face will not only help in reducing poverty levels as per Goal 1 of the SDGs but also shrink the gender imbalance as envisioned under Goal 4.
In this regard, she said, discussions of the Summit – which brings together 79 members from Africa, Caribbean, and Asia- envisions collective responsibility in building back better from the current socio-economic challenges resulting from COVID-19, armed conflict, climate change, among others.
On this note, she highlighted key challenges women face in the sector, including stereotypes, discrimination against women looking for high skilled and productive employment, physical verbal and mental harassment- including sexual assault in isolated sea areas; inadequate representation in decision making, and inadequate investments and access to grow their businesses.
These challenges, she observed, prevent full realisation of the potential of women who provide a larger percentage of the landed catches.
“The OACPS regions are endowed with three oceans besides, other water bodies, which we rely on for our basic needs and livelihoods. Ecosystem degradation through large- scale fisheries should, therefore, be sufficiently addressed to alleviate potential negative socio-economic impacts,” she noted.