International Women’s Day is an event that considers and recognises the contribution of women towards nation building.
This was the message of the Minister of Women Mereseini Vuniwaqa and she has also stated that this year’s International Women's Day theme is “Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives” with the Campaign Theme as #PressforProgress.
Vuniwaqa says today is a day when the nation can celebrate the achievements of the Fijian women in whatever sphere of life they may be active in.
She says gender equality and the empowerment of women is a priority for the government.
Vuniwaqa acknowledged the tremendous contribution of all the stakeholders, donors, UN agencies, foreign missions, non-government organizations, civil society and male champions for their commitment towards the realization of gender equality and the empowerment of the Fijian women.
She stressed that a concerted effort across all sectors of the economy is necessary if they are to truly progress in their quest for gender equality.
Vuniwaqa says women play an important role in the development and progress of their respective communities and the nation as a whole however their contribution is often not fully recognised due to the unequal gendered power structures that spread throughout the society often discriminating against women.
