‘When women are disrespected, humiliated or exploited, a major chunk of the world population is disrespected, humiliated or exploited’

Government wants every daughter in Fiji to grow up a country where she can believe in herself, believe in her future and follow her heart and realise her dreams.

That was the message from Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Veena Bhatnagar, preached during the Ba Women’s Forum on Monday.

Speaking at the Returned Services League (RSL) Hotel, Lautoka Ms Bhatnagar said: “When women are not paid well, 50 per cent of the population is not paid well.

“When women are disrespected, humiliated or exploited, a major chunk of the world population is disrespected, humiliated or exploited.

“And the entire human race will lag behind, unable to realise its true potential.”

“That’s why we speak about empowering women – for a better tomorrow, for a better humanity,” she said.

“I firmly believe that empowering a woman is empowering a family and therefore the family is the foundation of a community.”

Ms Bhatnagar said empowering women was giving women the ability of capitalise in other field of development.

Ms Bhatnagar said the fight for gender equality and equity was an everyday battle.

“Non-government organisations like your women’s organisations have played a major role in pushing for sustainable development at the international level in various aspects,” she said.

“Campaigning groups have been key drivers of governmental negotiations, ranging from matters around violence against women to the economic empowerment of women.”

She said the participants were the voice of the women who would not be able to represent themselves at any level.

“You are drivers of institutions that the women you represent look up to and depend on to be heard by policy makers,” she said.

Ms Bhatnagar told the women that they were the helpers of Government in pushing the gender agenda forward.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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