“Women empowerment should not be made political.”

This was highlighted by Health Minister Rosy Akbar who claims that some political party candidates have recently made comments that undermines the concept of empowering women.

Akbar says it’s not easy being a woman leader, especially when it comes to being part of a male dominated business or a political arena.

She stresses that this is one of the main reasons why many women don’t come forward as they’re easily targeted.

“Are we good enough to always be somewhere we’ve always been dominated. Where do we find women? Garment factory, Market places. Are we just good enough for that? No we’re not, every woman is powerful whether you’re in the market, you’re a mother, you’re a politician or whether you’re a business executive or whether you’re an entrepreneur, every women”

The minister adds that women empowerment is one way to get the underprivileged as well as the reasonably privileged women to come to realise their worth and potential.

Akbar was speaking at a Women in Business event in Suva yesterday.