The Fiji Young Women’s Forum (FYWF) will be hosting a capacity building workshop from Friday, 19th June – Saturday, 20th June 2015 at Suva’s Holiday Inn titled, ‘Role of Fiji Parliament and Local Government’.
Co-convened by Diverse Voices and Action for Equality (DIVA), Emerging Leaders Forum Alumni (ELFA) and FemLINKPACIFIC’s Young Women in Leadership Team, the workshop will be bringing together more than 60 diverse young women leaders from all overFiji to highlight the importance of political participation and discuss strategies to ensure young women are visible and represented at various political platforms, reaffirming their civil and political rights.
“To be launched by the Speaker of the House, Dr Jiko Luveni, the workshop will look at Standing Orders, Standing Committees, Select Committees and Special Committees in Parliament along with the necessary structures when presenting submissions and engaging with the democratic process at national and local level, “ said Mamta Chand, Coordinator of Fiji Young Women’s Forum.
“We want women to support women aspiring to take an active role in local and national decision making processes and structures,” stated Viva Tatawaqa of DIVA.
“We would like to ensure that young women stand for national elections in 2018 or for local government when the time comes,” explained Funmike Lilo of ELFA. “We want them to know we stand alongside them in solidarity.”
The Forum recognises the importance of remaining engaged within thesepolitical spaces and ensuring that young women’s issues and needs are taken into account.
“We hope to stay connected to the young women in all their diversities who are at this workshop through our community radio network,” said Emeli Anise of FemLINKPACIFIC. “With our media accreditation and passes to parliament, we stand ready to ensure that young women have access to a communication platform after this.”
The capacity building workshop for young women leaders is facilitated by Governance Programme, United Nations Development Programme Pacific Centre, Civic Education Unit of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) Pacific.
Press Release