Digital spaces
‘Need to protect rights online’
THERE is a need to focus on the importance of protecting the rights of women, girls in digital spaces and addressing online and ICT-facilitated gender-based violence, says Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Sashi Kiran in Suva on Thursday.
While delivering her speech during the International Women’s Day celebration and Market For Change (M4C) handing over of IT equipment by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji, she said the project would greatly benefit female market vendors.
UNDP handed over 20 laptops, 20 portable printers and scanners to support inclusive growth policies and strategies aimed at increasing financial inclusion and reaching out to vulnerable groups such as rural women market vendors and farmers.
“The International Women’s Day calls for us to explore the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities,” she said.
“What better way to celebrate the theme of International Women’s Day than providing IT equipment to support online learnings for market vendors across the 13 municipal markets in Fiji.
“I must applaud and thank UN Women for the M4C project which focuses on promoting gender equality and women economic empowerment activities across the marketplaces in rural and urban areas in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Samoa.”
Ms Kiran said the theme for 2023 International Women’s Day - DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality - aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-67) “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.
“The handing over of IT equipment was a continuation of support that was given in 2021.
“The support under the M4C project has enabled 13 municipal markets in Fiji to be well equipped with online training equipment including multimedia projectors, portable pull-up screens and hard drives.
“The equipment greatly benefitted the 4000 urban and rural market vendors across Fiji, as part of its COVID-19 pandemic recovery support.
“COVID-19 has taught everyone on the need to re-look at how they do things, how they deliver their services, in ensuring that the most vulnerable groups, marginalised groups are supported.”
She added the IT equipment ensured women were well equipped with resources to encourage business growth and business expansion.