‘Gender integrates into different aspects of relocation process’
GENDER is greatly integrated into different aspects of the relocation process, according to the acting director for Climate Change in the Ministry of Environment Filimone Ralogaivau.
He told the conference on Gender-Responsive Climate Policy Formulation in Suva this week Fiji leads in the field of primary relocation and climate-induced relocation, and that the Government recently endorsed the standard operating procedures for primary relocation.
“If you have the chance to look at standard operating procedures (SOP) for primary relocation, you will see how gender is greatly integrated into different aspects of the relocation process,” Mr Ralogaivau said.
“From the consultation phase, there needs to be processes in place where women and children are consulted separately, so that we can get the full consent of the community.”
Mr Ralogaivau said Government had learned lessons from the relocation of communities in the past.
“Some things like, we built homes, and homes didn’t have kitchens, or didn’t have bathrooms and toilets. So, this is all part of the lessons we’ve learned, and we’ve tried to better integrate it into the standard operating procedures, and the importance of women especially.”
Mr Ralogaivau said they were consulted in different phases from saying yes or no to relocation to housing plans.
“Additionally, in regards to disaster risk response, the Government also needs to look into how we can better see some of our initiatives when we look into the surprises that we give those affected.
“And this is also in regards to communities that have been displaced.” Mr Ralogaivau cited the community of Nabavatu which has been displaced for four years and is in the process of relocation.
“And being in a situation of displacement for a period of four years, living in makeshift housing conditions, certain issues will rise in the state of displacement.
“And these are some things that have been highlighted that we need to address to better our efforts.”