Her Majesty The Queen’s speech to the CHOGM Women’s Forum

Prime Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a huge pleasure to be here with you today.  I would, first, like to thank the people of Samoa for the warm welcome that my husband and I have received and for your hospitality and generosity to us and to the whole Commonwealth family.  

I was delighted recently to come across the wonderful Samoan prover:  E au le Inailau a Tama’ita’i. With apologies to the men in the room, I thought that we might make this our motto today.  

According to a legend, a competition was once held between men and women in a village to thatch the roof of the house of Chief Tautunu. Although they started at the same time, the women finished their side first, as they had laboured through the night, while the men slept.  As one whose husband is often toiling into the small hours, long after my head is on the pillow, I should stress there are plenty of exceptions! But the moral of the proverb is: Women will turn their hands successfully to any task that must be done; and will work hard until it is completed.

As we gather to discuss our theme, “Advocating for Women and Girls in the Commonwealth”, we have a gigantic task ahead of us, for which we all – male and female – will need the same spirit that inspired those women thatchers. It is this: to end domestic and sexual violence across the Commonwealth, now and forever.  And its enormity can be seen from the shocking statistics.  Globally, 30% of women have been subjected to either physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.  Most of this at the hands of an intimate partner.  Worldwide, 27% of women aged 15-49 who have been in a relationship, report that they have experienced some sort of abuse from their partners.    

Faced with the vastness of the issue, it can seem almost impossible to know where to begin.  Yet our Commonwealth’s 75-year history offers hope, inspiration and – crucially – solutions.  Leaders from around the globe are willing to meet, as equals, and to have difficult, and constructive, conversations.  

The Commonwealth Says NO MORE campaign, which takes a culturally sensitive approach towards ending domestic and sexual violence, is supporting people from all walks of life to identify and implement practical steps which we can all take to make homes, workplaces and communities safe for women and girls.  We know that abuse can be prevented and ultimately eliminated, but only if we work together until that task is completed. 

That is our commitment – to each other, to the Commonwealth and to the generations to come.  

E au le Inailau a Tama’ita’i.

Thank you.