Invest in women
A call to action on International Women’s Day
Last Friday, I joined with many across Fiji and the Pacific to mark International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day has been held on March 8 for over 100 years to celebrate the achievements of women and mark a call to action to accelerate women’s empowerment and gender equality. This year’s theme is Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress. It recognises that gender equality is held back by a major shortfall in financing for gender equality measures. Globally, this is estimated at $US360 million ($F802m). It also highlights the importance of women and girls having equal opportunities to learn, earn and lead, in other words ensuring women’s economic empowerment. Globally, one in ten women still live in poverty. Over 2.7 billion women are legally restricted from having the same choice of jobs as men. Nearly 60 per cent of women’s employment globally is in the informal economy, and in lowincome countries, it is more than 90 per cent. This is unacceptable. We cannot wait another 100 years to achieve gender equality. We cannot even wait 10 years as SDG 5 demands for us to achieve gender equality by 2030. Women’s economic empowerment is essential to achieving women’s rights and gender equality. It is also good for the economy and for business. It is estimated that companies with three or more women in senior management functions score higher in all dimensions of organisational performance. The United Nations remains committed to promoting gender equality and women’s rights, acknowledging that without their full realisation, meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 is impossible.
ON Friday, the United Nations partnered with Fiji’s Women Entrepreneurs Business Council and heard inspiring stories from Fijian businesswomen on the barriers they have faced, and the barriers they have overcome, to learn, earn and lead in Fiji.
When it comes to Fiji and the Pacific, I am pleased to recognise the efforts of governments, civil society, private sector, and faithbased communities to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.
We see strong commitments made at the regional level through the Pacific Leaders’ revitalised Gender Equality Declaration, the Pacific Platform for Action for Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights, and the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy.
While we have reason to celebrate today, we know there is a long way to go.
Gender inequality persists across our region, and in Fiji, with disparities in access to employment, politics, and social participation.
Violence against women and girls in the Pacific is among the highest in the world - about twice the global average. Studies reveal that up to 68 per cent of Pacific women have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner during their lifetime; many women, including women leaders, are also targeted by online harassment and misogynist defamation.
According to the 2023 Fiji Country Gender Assessment, the estimated business cost of domestic violence is 10 working days per employee per year.
In Fiji, women are more likely than men to be engaged in informal employment. Women account for close to 80 per cent of vendors at the 13 municipal markets, but are often not involved in market governance and decision making. While much work is underway to ensure access to financial services across Fiji, women are still less likely than men to have a bank account, with 56.8 per cent of women and 68.5 per cent of men reporting they had a bank account.
Politically, Pacific Island Countries have the lowest levels of women’s political representation in the world. While the global average of women in national parliaments stands at 26.8 per cent, for the Pacific Islands it is at 6.9 per cent. In Fiji, only 5 out of 55 seats in the national parliament are held by women. This is the lowest rate of female representation in Fiji’s national legislature since 2001. And women who do chose to actively engage in political life are frequently target of online and other harassment or defamation.
As government, the private sector, civil society, development partners and the United Nations we must come together to Invest in Women and Accelerate Progress. We need investment to end violence against women, ensure decent work, invest in women’s right organizations and drive women’s inclusion and leadership across all sectors of the economy.
Regionally, UN agencies, funds, and programs have a strong focus on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
The UN is supporting the meaningful participation of women in leadership and decision-making; working to create a conducive environment for women and girls’ economic empowerment inclusive of those working in the informal and care economy; strengthening women and girls’ participation in climate action and disaster risk management, and ensuring the full, equal, and effective participation of women and girls in the peace process.
Crucially, the UN is supporting women leaders in parliaments across the Pacific in their efforts to better reflect the needs and aspirations of women and girls in legislation, policy development and oversight, and facilitating a network of Pacific Women In Power to take collective action towards increasing women’s political participation and representation.
The UN is also working with partners to strengthen women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights with a view to end maternal mortality, ensure zero unmet family planning needs, provide health and psycho-social response to survivors of gender-based violence, and to promote a more inclusive approach to gender equality and equity, including for women and girls with disabilities.
As we celebrate another International Women’s Day, we must not go back to business as usual. Rather, we must invest in women and work harder and faster to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment in Fiji, across the Pacific, and globally.