The implementation of Fiji’s National Gender Policy will accelerate gender equality and women empowerment in Fiji.
This was been revealed during the Fiji’s presentation at Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Beijing+20 Review in Bangkok this week.
Fiji’s delegation was led by Director Women, Arieta Moceica who presented Fiji’s Country Statement in front of 700 representatives from governments, inter-governmental organizations, UN bodies and civil society in Asia and the Pacific who were present in Bangkok for the weeklong conference.
Mrs Moceica said Fiji’s National Gender Policy will be instrumental in promoting substantive gender equality and women’s leadership in Fiji.
“The National Women’s Plan of Action derives its priorities from the Beijing Platform for Action and the National Gender Policy 2014 reaffirms these commitments,” Mrs Moceica said.
“The strategies for the implementation of this Policy include, promoting an approach that is grounded in research, based on age and sex disaggregated data collection. Promoting women’s economic empowerment and gender equity in government, in relation to the environment, in the education system, and within civil society, as the key to sustainable development,” she added.
“Increasing the participation and access of women to the expression of their opinions and to decision making in and through the media including their involvement in new technologies of communication.
“Promoting a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in the media through training. Promoting gender equity and child protection strategies amongst adolescent boys and girls,” Mrs Moceica added.
Fiji’s presentation also highlighted women’s rights in Fiji are consistent with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
“Fiji first ratified CEDAW in 1995 and we are proud to report that Cabinet has approved our 5th State Report to be submitted to the UNCEDAW Committee. We are pleased to note the post- 2015 Sustainable Development Agenda addresses gender equality and empowerment of women and it is our hope that this will be a stand-alone goal and that all other goals will have gender targets and indicators,” Mrs Moceica emphasized.
The National Gender Policy was officially launched by the Ministry for Women in March this year and it is a home-grown policy designed to promote gender equality by empowering the ordinary Fijians to have access to equal opportunities for development and create an environment that is free from all forms of discrimination, injustice and violence.
DEPTFO