‘Empowering women through advocacy, economic opportunity’

Just over a year since assuming command of the Women’s Affairs Office, special Assistant Dolores Drew has been making do with limited funding for the implementation of programs for the empowerment of women.

One of the major programs geared toward this is the Outstanding Female Graduate (OFREGA) plaque to the most deserving female at public schools.

Drew expressed that in previous years, outstanding female graduates of private schools were not recognized, but that has changed during her term at this post. Today, outstanding female graduates at private schools are fully recognized for their academic and overall achievements.

She adds that Women’s Affairs “recognizes the worth of all women and seeks to develop their potential to the fullest extent possible.”

The award, she said, is to provide an incentive for and recognition of student efforts and achievement and designed to reward female graduates who achieve highly in a number of areas such as academics, athletics, citizenship with high levels of courage, self-discipline, respect, and integrity.

As a board member of the CNMI Women’s Association, Drew noted that the need to bring women together in the Commonwealth is a priority.

During the 2015 Women’s Summit, top priorities included empowering women as leaders, supporting women in the workforce, cultural preservation and practices and promoting healthier lifestyles.

Drew states that as a community, “we need [informed] policy and program development on issues that affect women to deliver specific projects to improve their economic and social participation.”

She noted that among the WAO achievements was the collaborative efforts of the Women’s Association for the 2nd Annual Women’s Summit in 2015 which garnered 250 participants, the partnering with Let’s Move Marianas, support to the Northern Marianas College—Adult Basic Education classes, the Motheread/Fatheread Program, DYS Parenting Education Program, Sexual Assault Awareness, Maternal and Child Health, the Women’s Health Day Exhibit and Workforce Empowerment Training.

Drew says that in improving women’s livelihoods, “…the situation is particularly in the areas of health, protection against violence, economic productivity, education, literacy and public participation. We need to bring our CNMI women together.”

With the upcoming 4th Annual Women’s Summit, Drew shares that a meet-and-greet gathering of women will soon take place for open discussion of women’s issues, the program’s future plans and to further encourage the empowerment of women.

The meet-and-greet hopes to bring women together to establish a support network and ongoing social participation, which has been lacking in the community.

The purpose of the gathering, she shares, is to reinforce, “better formulate, and implement a policy of affirmative action in the government and private sector to assist women in achieving social, political and economic parity.”

In celebration of March as Women’s Month, Drew encourages women to log onto www.cnmiwomen.org for the calendar of events.

Under the Commonwealth Constitution, Article III, Section 22: Special Assistant for Women’s Affairs, the WAO “shall promote the interests of women, assist agencies of government and private organizations to plan and implement programs and services for women, monitor compliance of laws and regulations by government agencies and private organizations, organize community education strategies regarding the roles of women, and recommend to the governor and the legislature for consideration legislation of benefit to women.”

The Women’s Affairs Office strives to meet the needs of young women, disadvantaged women, victims of domestic abuse, women in need of additional emotional, social, and economic support as well as recognition, praise and continued support for women in leadership or women striving to live independent lives.

For more information on how you can get involved with the WAO or for inquiries on women’s services, call 237-2237/38.