CAPTION: Sharon Bhagwan Rolls. File Photo.
As Forum Regional Security officials meet at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, a Women, Peace and Human Security consultation (June 5th) will bring together women from informal settlements in Suva through the People’s Community Network (PCN) and women leaders from WINET-Fiji, Poor Relief Society and the Stri Sewa Sabha to amplify the call for gender inclusive conflict prevention and human security approaches in defining development.
Made possible with funding support from the European Union and International Women’s Development Agency, it is all part of FemLINKPacific’s efforts in promoting a Women, Peace and Human Security framework linked to gender equal commitments and treaties including the UN Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women and UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Women, Peace and Security).
The consultation builds on recent interviews conducted with 18 women living in informal settlements in Suva and linkages with rural community media and policy network activities undertaken in Ba, Tavua, Nadi, Rakiraki, Labasa and Nausori.
In 2013 alone, 500 women have been featured in monthly radio programme productions, community media consultations and radio broadcasts as well as television simulcasts:
“So in the day to day work, it’s very much connected to the day to day life of the women in our rural network in Fiji, and the stories and issues that they are raising are about their desire for peace,” says FemLINKPacific’s Executive Director, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls.
Since the formation of the Regional Women’s Media and Policy Network on UNSCR1325 in 2007, the use of community media initiatives has become an enabling and participatory process to empower and inform the transformation of political spaces and processes, including within our own movements and organisations.
This also enabled the organisation to contribute to the development of the Pacific Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security launched by the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands on October 18, 2012.
FemLINKPacific also convenes the Pacific network of GPPAC – the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict:
“As a result of the adoption of the Conflict Prevention-Human Security Framework and Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security be mainstreamed within the Pacific Plan and other policy approaches in relation to a post 2015 to bring about the transformative shift from conflict reaction to preventive action.”
PRESS RELEASE