Women empowerment

THE responsibility to promote women’s equal rights and empowerment lies with all of us, says Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa.

She made this comment during the Makoi Women’s Vocational Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday.

“The gaps that remain, require the indulgence of us as individuals in how we help and support women around us live a life free of discrimination, abuse and lack of access to opportunities,” she said.

Ms Vuniwaqa said women’s contribution to care work — especially unpaid care work was largely unrecognised.

“The COVID situation saw the demand of care work grow and the burden mostly shifting to women. I do hope that care work will be adequately remunerated and recognised with its growing demand.

“Inclusive and sustainable development around the world, leaving no one behind is the overarching vision of the UN’s 2030 Agenda and also a promise of the Fijian Government whereby gender equality and women’s economic empowerment are central to the realisation of this vision, however, still gender gaps remain large, pervasive and persistent.”

She said the government’s action of not adjusting the grants to women’s institution signified their commitment to women’s economic empowerment.

“In a time when Government had to make numerous adjustments to the budgetary allocations to each ministry with COVID-19 largely affecting our revenues through tourism, grants to women’s institutions remained.

“This in itself is proof of the Fijian Government’s commitment to women’s economic empowerment and the fact we recognise that women are equal players in nationbuilding, and their economic empowerment and participation is extremely crucial.”