New Horizons...

My Grandson turns 5 this year. My God daughter 20. I am looking forward to my 60th birthday. What an exciting year ahead for all three of us.

But what does that really mean after a year of global rollbacks on gender equality and human rights.

When more than USD 2 billion was spent on militarization instead of post COVID-19 social and economic recovery and restoring health services and infrastructure.

When women still undertake 80% of unpaid care work and we wonder why we remain - in all our diversities - under represented in decision making.

Can we anticipate change and more resilient and inspiring new horizons for our young people?

It's a question that I carry as I prepare to sit in more meetings where those at the table are not feminists or gender equality experts but traditional security and military advisers and national security experts who need to use a new human security lens particularly for small island and big ocean states.

The complexities are immense.

It's more than just about last year.

It does require us to better delve into our political realities and her'stories to understand what has happened to bring us to this point.

What did our foremothers anticipate when they engaged in the processes that we enter into, in our time.

No answers are needed immediately.

But more deliberate, thoughtful and compassionate consideration should be given to co-creating solutions to contemporary challenges - drawing on the legacy for our new horizons.