Promote gender equality & empower women
"One woman is left permanently disabled everyday in Fiji as a result of violence from her husband or partner."[1] Not only is physical violence an issue, but also emotional, and sexual abuse. Women's rights groups are striving to combat domestic violence towards women in the country. "Data shows assaults are particularly prevalent in rural areas."[1] Rates are decreasing, but there is still need for improvement. "If we all get onto the same page and we really are committed to this and there is political will, we can bring these numbers down."[1]
"In a region that has long had the worst representation of women in politics in the world, Fiji’s recent election delivered some good news: one in seven Fijian MPs are women, while the parliament now has its first female Speaker. But there is still a long way for Fiji to go before it reaches what the United Nations considers a crucial benchmark of at least 30% women in national parliament. And some of the attacks on prominent female candidates – including veiled rape threats – during the election campaign revealed that some voters in Fiji are still unhappy about more women stepping up into political leadership roles."[2]
Steps taken toward equality
"Minister for Women, Doctor Jiko Luveni,
has confirmed the government is progressively adopting effective measures to
remove social and economic inequalities between men and women." [3] She reports that "girls are outnumbering boys in tertiary education achievements" and that "women's health is strongly promoted."[3] Fiji's efforts to empower women are taking root, as women take on the responsibility to build their confidence and work hard to improve their skills and knowledge. They must first change their attitude to realize their value and not "regard themselves as people who are vulnerable, always needing support and help."[3]