Govt committed to advancing progress of women and girls
THE Fiji Government has affirmed its unwavering commitment to advance the progress of women and girls in every facet of its development. In stating this on the occasion of the
International Women’s Day, Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, noted that the “collective vision for a secure, peaceful, prosperous and stable Fiji can only be achieved if we empower women and girls”.
“Government initiatives will consider the unique needs, knowledge and potential of women and girls,” PM Rabuka highlighted.
“This commitment sits solidly in Sustainable Development Goal 5 - to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls,” and is critical to our policies on education, finance, legal reform, and other initiatives contributing to the empowerment of women and girls.”
“In 1995, I led the Fiji Delegation to the Fourth World Conference for Women in Beijing, China, where we signed and committed to targets of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and we also signed the women’s rights treaty - Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women.”
PM Rabuka reflected that it followed the preparation of the first National Plan for Action for Women (1998-2008) to guide actions in the empowerment of women holistically with participation from all stakeholders.
He acknowledged and supported this year’s theme, “Invest in Women: Accelerate, Progress”, which resonates deeply with the values and aspirations of the Coalition Government.
“We are committed to put into place the necessary initiatives to enhance women’s progress in our nation and recognise the important role played by our women and girls to achieve the goal of a cohesive and progressive society,” PM Rabuka said.
To support efforts against violence against women and girls, the Cabinet approved the National Shelter Guideline late last year, which was vital because shelters play a crucial role in crisis intervention, supporting women and children when they are at risk of harm.
In highlighting the rights and empowerment of women across Fiji, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya, stressed that investing in women was a strategic necessity for achieving sustainable development goals and prosperity for all.
“Fiji has come a long way in changing the lives of women through international and regional treaty commitments, gender mainstreaming policies and programs, legislative frameworks and increased access to justice and education amongst others,” she said.
“The Fiji Government believes that gender mainstreaming across all sectors is crucial and steadfast through the 2014 National Gender Policy, calling on agencies across government to address the gender gaps and promote women’s empowerment through the strengthening of their institutions.”