Bhatnagar: Empowering A Woman Is Empowering A Family
Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Veena Bhatnagar says empowering a woman is empowering a family and therefore the family is the foundation of a community.
“Empowering women is giving women the ability to capitalise in other fields of development,” Ms Bhatnagar said when launching the Wainibokasi Multiracial Women’s Club, near Nausori on friday.
“We want every daughter in Fiji to grow up in a country where she can believe in herself, her future and follow her heart and dreams.”
Ms Bhatnagar said it was for organisations like these that set the example for little girls, that women are capable of achieving anything because the sky is the limit.
“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,” Ms Bhatnagar said.
“And the entire human race will lag behind, unable to realise its true potential.”
The more remarkable thing is that the group is a multiracial one, bringing to the table the diversity that Fiji has as its core strength.
She said the increase in the budget allowed the ministry to strengthen its work in partnership with women’s non-governmental organizations.
As well as the establishment and funding of the Fiji Women’s Federation, Construction of Women Resource Centres and the Domestic Violence Helpline.
There is also the establishment of the national taskforce on putting an end to violence against women that has recently come up with the service delivery protocol.
The, implementation of the REACH project, the National Women’s Expo, grants to women’s NGOs, and the implementation of the National Gender Policy to name a few.
“This manifests the Fijian Governments commitment to women’s empowerment and protecting and protecting women’s rights in Fiji,” Ms Bhatnagar said.
“It is really nice to have a special day for women where they are glorified to a point of being honored, awarded and appreciated.”
Edited by Percy Kean
