Creating ‘a better life for women, girls’
THE ministry is committed to working with everyone with shared vision and ambition towards creating a “better life for all Fijian women and girls”, says Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Sashi Kiran.
Ms Kiran made the statement during the launch of the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) research report Beyond 33 per cent: The Economic Empowerment of Fiji Women and Girls on Wednesday.
“This factual report provides invaluable information to guide policy makers to better comprehend the situation and strategise to act upon the identified gender disparities that women and girls face in the economy and society,” she said.
“We at the ministry are committed to working towards prioritising the launch and effective implementation of the Fiji National Action Plan to prevent violence against women between 2023 and 2028.
“We know that the women’s movement has been leading this process and there will be a whole government plan to focus on addressing both holistically in all aspects of public and private life.”
She said the national plan would focus on unpaid care, the formal economy, property and assets, digital and financial inclusion, education, future jobs, entrepreneurship and more.
“I encourage everyone to take the responsibility and act for change — collective activism is what drives change.
“Let us reaffirm our commitment to the empowerment of women and girls during this important month of International Women’s Day on March 8.”
She said the ministry recognised the importance of women and girls and would continue to work towards creating safe spaces for women in Fiji.
“We recognise the importance of women and girls in our national development.
“No one should be deprived of their right to live their lives to the fullest potential and contribute to the trajectory of a national development.
“We will try our best to ensure equal access to education, health and other fundamental rights and freedom to our women and continuously work towards creating safe spaces free of violence where mothers and daughters and sisters can flourish.”