The Fiji Women’s Fund reached 7,869 people last year including 5,321 wom­en, 2,481 men, and 67 representa­tives of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and in­tersex (LGBTQI) community.

Out of 7,869 people, 25 women and 14 men reached are living with disabilities.

The figures were highlighted by the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Meresei­ni Vuniwaqa during the launch of the Fund’s 2018 annual progress report at the Holiday Inn in Suva yesterday.

She said the Fund was support­ing activities across each of its four thematic areas, namely elim­inating violence against women; strengthening women’s groups and coalitions for change; empow­ering women through increased economic opportunities and im­proving women’s participation in leadership and decision making.

“The Fund is extremely im­portant, especially given their commitment of AU$10.5 million (FJ$15.79 million) from 2017 to 2022 for funding and capacity de­velopment support to women’s groups, networks, and organiza­tions in Fiji to expand and en­hance their work on women’s em­powerment and gender equality.

“To date, the Fund has provided funding to 18 grantees who imple­mented activities in each of Fiji’s four Divisions.

“In 2018, the Fiji Women’s Fund began supporting the work of women living in rural and remote locations and those that are mar­ginalised,” Ms Vuniwaqa said.

She said the partnership that we as women’s empowerment institu­tions have formed is the best way forward.

“Our agenda is the same though our role different, our vision is the same though our strategies vary, specific to our existence, but what we can do together is going to be remarkable,” Ms Vuniwaqa said.

Edited by Susana Tuilau

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