Pacific Partnership 2019 Contributes to the Women, Peace, and Security Effort

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Chanel Turner | 190424-N-OI558-2098 CHUUK, Federated States of Micronesia (April 24, 2019) Royal Australian Navy Lt. Cmdr. David Chapman, left, and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Marc Davis are briefed on the Special Girls Project during a Chuuk Women’s Council meeting, increasing multilateral cooperation during Pacific Partnership 2019. Pacific Partnership, now in its 14th iteration, is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Each year, the mission team works collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase stability and security in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chanel Turner)  

CHUUK, MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF

04.27.2019

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Chanel Turner 

Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific

Multinational service members participating in Pacific Partnership 2019 provided support to the United Nation’s Women, Peace, and Security initiative by spreading the program’s message to the citizens of Chuuk.

Pacific Partnership’s work with the Women, Peace, and Security effort increased multilateral cooperation with the supporting nations.

While in Chuuk, Royal Australian Navy Lt. Cmdr. David Chapman and U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Natalie Spritzer held a Women, Peace, and Security engagement at Xavier High School to have dialogue with the students about the importance of gender equality in politics and the work force.

The engagement involved Spritzer interacting with the students by sharing each other’s experiences in adversity, specifically in natural and economic disasters, to tie in the importance of gender equality in political roles in order to help with developing solutions and relief efforts.

“It’s so crucial to reach out to the youth even if it’s a complex topic,” said Spritzer. “Teenagers are at the inception of their adult lives, and I’m proud to say I’ve made a positive impact by introducing them to Women, Peace, and Security so early on. I left feeling like I made friends with all of the 178 students.”

Pacific Partnership’s support continued with a meeting with the Chuuk’s Women’s Council for a Special Girls’ Project brief regarding women’s protection from sexual and gender-based violence, as well as ensuring equal access to relief and recovery assistance. After the brief, the council shared their perspective on how Pacific Partnership and Chuuk’s continued side-by-side efforts can further build trust among nations to encourage both men and women to work efficiently together.

Chapman expresses the importance of all allies working together to achieve the program’s success.

“It is essential that women and men equally participate in the planning and decision-making process in order to ensure the needs of the entire population are adequately considered,” said Chapman. “It has been impressive to observe the level of cooperation between partner nations and governmental, international and grassroots organizations, in particular the UN Development Program-sponsored Special Girls’ Project.”

Pacific Partnership, now in its 14th iteration, is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Each year, the mission team works collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase stability and security in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.

• Date Taken: 04.27.2019
• Date Posted: 04.27.2019 04:21
• Story ID: 319781
• Location: CHUUK, FM