GUINEA-BISSAU: CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

January 30 is the day set aside to honor the courage and struggles of women in Guinea-Bissau. The date marks the anniversary of death, e.g. Portuguese settlers, of the heroine Titina Silá, a valiant fighter in the anti-colonial struggle. This year, the most significant moments of the official celebration were the laying of wreaths at the tomb of Titina Silá and the planting of trees by female government figures to symbolize the need for peace and national harmony. For the Minister of Agriculture and Forests, Nelvina Barreto, planting trees is a way to honor the Bissau-Guinean heroines who gave their lives for independence, laying the foundations for the emancipation of all women in Guinea-Bissau.