Government Promotes Gender Equality
Fiji’s National Gender Policy recognises gender equality as being a fundamental human right, says the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar.
At the recent launch of the ministry’s Annual Corporate Plan 2015, Ms Akbar said the policy was an inherent component of economic growth and development.
“The National Gender Policy includes provisions for gender sensitisation training, gender-disaggregated data collection, gender analysis, and for using gender-sensitive language in legislation and Government documents.
“It has strategies for promoting women’s economic empowerment and gender equity in Government, in relation to the environment, in the area of women, peace and security within civil society, and for increasing women’s participation in the decision-making processes,” she said.
“Fiji’s National Gender Policy promotes the advancement of women’s human rights in accordance with Fiji’s obligations as a State party to the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and other international human rights laws,” Ms Akbar said.
Government’s commitment towards women empowerment has seen an increased budget allocation to the Department of Women.
“Under the leadership of the Bainimarama Government, the Department of Women’s programming budget has increased some 300 per cent from $180, 000 in the early 2000 to $1.2 million last year and this year, it has increased further to $1.8 million.
“The progressive laws and decrees like Family Law Act; Employment Relations Promulgati on; Domestic Violence Decree; Crimes Decree; Sentencing and Penalties Decree; the Child Welfare Decree; the HIV&AIDS Decree to name the major ones also complement the National Gender Policy;” she said.
Meanwhile, the work of the Department of Women is guided by the 10-year Women’s Plan of Action which focuses on five of the 12 critical areas of concern of the Beijing Platform for Action.
| The 5 critical areas of concern are: |
|---|
| – Women in Formal Sector Employment and Women’s Livelihoods – Equal participation of women at all levels of decision making – The elimination of violence against women and children – Women’s access to basic services including education, health and basic services; and – Women and law. |
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