Women should be celebrated every day
The Fiji Disabled People's Federation president Joshko Wakaniyasi made this comments during the women with disabilities International Women's Day celebration at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva on Friday.
He said women should be celebrated every day including those with disability.
"Women do and woman can also lead the world," Mr Wakaniyasi said.
"I must congratulate women on your hardwork and thank you for the sacrifices you do."
Chief guest and Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa said International Women's Day was a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.
Ms Vuniwaqa said empowering women and girls was the only way to protect their rights and made they realised their full potential.
"When I speak of rights of women and girls, I mean all women and girls, including those who are living with disabilities – or rather women with different abilities."
"The battle to achieve selfrespect and self-acceptance for women, whether they have disabilities or not, is an ongoing one for all those who care about the basic human and individual right of all people to live their lives to their fullest capacity, unencumbered by the unjust and discriminatory limitations imposed by others.
She says the combination of being a woman and being disabled can inspire a vast range of prejudices and ignorance.
Although men and women with disabilities are subject to various kinds of discrimination because of their disabilities, women with disabilities are at a further disadvantage because of the combined discrimination based on gender stereotypes and assumed roles.
This International Women's Day, and as my Ministry embarks on new gender equality initiatives like the Country Gender Assessment, the Gender Transformative Institutional Capacity development, and the National Action Plan on the Prevention of Violence against women and girls, I pledge that the interest of women with disabilities will remain a priority in all our gender equality and women's empowerment initiatives.