Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Lynda Tabuya, left, says the Fiji country gender assessment report is expected to advance gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls. Picture: SUPPLIED/FIJIAN GOVERNMENT FB PAGE
By ZIFIRAH VUNILEBA
The success of the Fiji country gender assessment in overcoming numerous challenges over the past two years demonstrates the par of partnership, commitment and meaningful collaboration, says Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Lynda Tabuya.
Launching the Fiji Country Gender Assessment (FCGA) report this week at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Ms Tabuya said data was a powerful tool to achieving gender equality.
She said the report was an important milestone in the collective effort to advance gender equality and empowerment for all Fijian women and girls.
“The assessment enables us to track progress, identify the barriers that women and girls face and create evidence-based solutions to address those barriers,” she said.
“This FCGA report is a gift to all women and girls in ensuring their interests are put at the forefront.”
She paid tribute to her predecessors Mereseini Rakuita and Rosy Akbar who were instrumental in ensuring that intricate information was captured to make the report what it is today.
Ms Tabuya also acknowledged the New Zealand Government for their support in providing the much-needed funding to get the FCGA off the ground as well as the Australian Government and UN Women for providing the technical expertise throughout the inception process.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who was chief guest at the launch, said the recommendations outlined in the assessment were expected to inform and help improve gender programs and policymaking.
He said this was an important step to achieving gender equality, equity and empowering all women and girls.
Representatives from the New Zealand High Commission said the launch recognised Fiji’s resolve towards gender equality and gender empowerment.
*Zifirah Vunileba is a final-year journalism student at USP’s Laucala Campus. She is also a senior reporter for Wansolwara, USP Journalism’s student training publication.
