Public turn out in numbers to support initiative
TO raise awareness on gender inequality and gender-based violence the European Union in partnership with Suva Marathon Club held a “Run together – unite together” event in Suva yesterday.
Participants from all walks of life, including school students from around the Suva and Tailevu area, took part in either 5km or 10km beginning from the Grand Pacific Hotel carpark.
Chargé d’affaires of the European Union Delegation Erja Askola said the run was organised during the global “16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls’’ to highlight gender-based violence.
“I think this kind of idea of campaigning, raising awareness will make people see and understand the consequences of violence because without violence there is no action,” she said.
“Fiji was the first country in the Pacific to launch the National Action Plan, which is a five-year plan running from 2021 to 2026 to work on the issues of violence and we at the European Union are very glad to be supporting this action plan.”
Ms Askola added more action was needed by the public and stakeholders for the protection of women and girls.
“Every year we work on the 16 days of activism and it’s not enough to be campaigning only 16 days a year.
“We need to do more, so we need everybody on board. This includes men, women, community and government.”
Fiji’s long-distance runner Avikesh Lal from Nadi won the 10km run and thanked the organisers for putting together a run.
“Feels good to show up and support this event, especially the message behind it and to show people around Fiji that everybody has equal rights,” the 27-year-old said.
The 16 Days of activism against gender-based violence is an international campaign to raise awareness and to generate action to end violence against women and girls in communities around the world.