Localizing 1325 in Fiji: FemLINKPacific Special Report

Localizing 1325 in Fiji: FemLINKPacific Special Report

Wednesday 20 March, 2013

As 30 local women leaders met in Nausori today in a Women, Peace and Human Security consultation ahead of a women-led community radio broadcast on March 23rd economic and health security priorities have emerged from three of the 5 rural centres where FemLINKPacific's rural convenors and correspondents hosted monthly "1325" network meetings.

This follows last week's consultation and community radio simulcast with women and young women leaders from local clubs. The programme activities are supported by the European Union, the International Women's Development Agency and American Bar Association - Rule of Law Initiative.

Access to decision making structures including in faith based organisation including improvements to infrastructure for persons with disabilities and for women as food producers “(we) all need proper drainage because as a farmer we see our crops, vegetable are destroyed during rainy weather when our gardens our flooded “ said Teresia Timaleti a Catholic Women’s League and Adi Mere Direki 46 year old market vendor from Vuci.

Speaking to FemLINKPacific's community media officer, Dorothy Bali the Coordinator of the Ba Seniors Centre highlighted that the 55 members of the Centre which included 10 men placed a priority on access to social welfare support:
"...(Because) most of the women and men were not employed in the formal sectors and have no Fiji National Provident Fund retirement fund and continue to face difficulty in accessing social welfare support."
Women from Vutuni also raised poor road conditions which made it difficult to transport vegetables to the local market.

In Labasa, according to Alisi Matai, the 16 women leaders who attended the "1325" meeting at FemLinkpacific's community media centre, discussions focused on access to and affordability of tertiary education.

Market vendors have also raised the problems caused by the delays in the repair to the market roof while poor roads as well as access to health services remains a concern for women from remote villages such as the Tawake Village which is 140 km from town and there is only one health centre servicing 5 villages.

7 rural women leaders met with FemLINKPacific's newly appointed Nadi convenor Visha Pillay and the discussions continued from last week's consultation including access to public transport for persons with disabilities as well as rural infrastructure. Market vendors are also looking forward to the completion of repairs to the market.

Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls, Executive Director: FemLINKPacific (www.femlinkpacific.org.fj)

ENDS

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