Minister Vuniwaqa’s full speech on International Women’s Day
In recognition of the alarming national statistics of domestic violence, the Bainimarama Government in 2009 brought into law the Domestic Violence Decree which has become an effective tool for the protection of victims of domestic violence and the punishm
The Ministry for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation on behalf of Government invites all Fijians to join women all over the world in commemorating and celebrating the International Women’s Day with the theme “Be Bold for Change”. International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8.
It provides all of humanity across the world with another opportunity to celebrate the economic, political and social contributions and achievement of women.
It is about committing to gender equality where women and girls are free from all forms of discrimination.
It is about ensuring a promising future that will provide women and girls the right environment to effectively participate in every aspect of socioeconomic development and sustainable growth without any discrimination and where equality is cherished by all.
Addressing the needs of our women is a priority goal of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development and as Fiji joins in the global campaign to address gender disparity at all levels. Fiji has come a long way in terms of laying a solid platform for gender equality in the form of our Constitutional provisions for equality, nondiscrimination and our Bill of Rights which now for the first time includes socio-economic rights.
In 2014 on the eve of International Women’s Day, the Bainimarama Government launched the first ever National Gender Policy, which further localises this priority in ensuring that women’s issues and concerns are mainstreamed into Government policies and programmes.
At community level, women play a key role in supporting their households and communities to achieve viable food security, to generate income to complement and sustain their families, to improve their livelihoods and to participate equitably at all development processes.
But the same women, who are resourceful, resilient and backbones of not only their households, but of the nation as a whole are too often discriminated against based on gender stereotypes.
The evident gender inequality has been the root cause of women being victims of the various forms of violence, yet too often there is silence on the matter from them and those around them.
Let’s break the silence by providing women a space to hear their voice, a space to live life free from violence and a space to utilise their potential for the development of our nation. Women account for 49 per cent of our total population and are the most vulnerable to poverty, domestic violence, abuse, and access to services. Violence against women and gender stereotyping are the biggest barrier to the effective participation of women in the social, economic and political sphere.
In recognition of the alarming national statistics of domestic violence, the Bainimarama Government in 2009 brought into law the Domestic Violence Decree which has become an effective tool for the protection of victims of domestic violence and the punishment of perpetrators.
A strong platform for gender equality in terms of Constitutional provisions, laws and policies are a great start.
More can and needs to be done. On this International Women’s Day we thank all our stakeholders, donors, UN agencies, foreign missions, non-government organisations, civil society, religious organisations, community-based organisations and male champions for your commitment towards the cause for gender equality in Fiji.
We ask that in marking this important day, we renew our pledge to forge ahead together in collaboration towards gender parity.
Happy International Women’s Day! Source: Ministry for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation