Sashi Kiran commemorates International Womens Day
Sustainable peace in Fiji can be achieved if we are willing to look at each other as humans, learn from the many lessons of love across divides, take time and patience to learn cultures and show respect to those who are different from us.
These were the words of Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Sashi Kiran during the commemoration of International Women’s Day at the Women’s Federation for World Peace Fiji in Suva yesterday.
Ms Kiran applauded the commitment of volunteers of the Women’s Federation for World Peace Fiji who have been dedicating their time to help build peace in Fiji and serve the women in need to give them relief and peace of mind.
She also shared her own journey of healing, peace building and Rewa Peace Process.
She thanked Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa for her vision to build bridges and enable a peace process across ethnic divides.
Ms Kiran shared that below the surface stereotypes and ethnic divide was real in Fiji and reared its ugly head each time we were uncomfortable especially during political events.
She said it was everyone’s responsibility to take ownership of healing their own wounds before sustainable peace can be achieved.
She shared that she had to face her own demons of stereotype and had to open her heart and develop patience to learn about other cultures.
“I meditate, have to undertake reflection exercises and retreat often to ensure I was dealing with my own impressions.
“I may accumulate with her daily interactions and that builds on my inner strength,” Ms Kiran said.
“We have to have inner peace, be secure within ourselves and then we can spread sustainable peace. “Imagine if all of us women rejoice in the success of other women and support each other’s growth, we will help build an enabling, violence free Fiji for all women and girls.
“We know we are a long way from that dream but if we all put our mind to it, we can achieve it sooner rather than later”.
“When we are secure, we are open to trust others, others reciprocate, we build genuine relationships,” Ms Kiran said.
She shared her experiences with working with hardened criminals and said she could bridge the divide because she was willing to trust.
Ms Kiran said the Women’s Federation for World Peace Fiji, in its pioneering stages, had been conducting seminars and reaching out to women for conversations around peace and development.
She said the month of March marked an important month on our calendar as we, the Government and non-government partners join forces to commemorate International Women’s Day to take stock on how far we have reached towards gender equality and violence free society.
“And most importantly reaffirm our commitment towards our fight which we all strongly believe in,” Ms Kiran said.