FWRM Emphasises Origins Of International Women’s Day At The 2026 If Women Stop, The World Stops Concert In Suva

The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) today marked International Women’s Day this year with music, dancing and singing with their annual concert titled “If Women Stop, the World Stops,” drawing attention to the often invisible but essential unpaid care work carried out by women across Fiji and other gender injustices.

Held at Suva’s Ratu Sukuna Park, the concert brought together musicians, activists and members of our communities to highlight the critical contributions women make every day through unpaid labour and the barriers women continue to face against the backdrop of a patriarchal society.

“At its core, IWD is about three things - advancing rights and equality in assessing the progress on gender equality and the structural barriers that remain, from gender-based violence and economic inequality to unequal political representation and unpaid care work. It is also an opportunity to holding power accountable, demanding action from stakeholders and thirdly, amplifying women’s voices and leadership, especially those who are most marginalised,” said FWRM Executive Director, Nalini Singh.

Ms Singh emphasised the need to re-align focus on the origins of IWD reiterating that the day is not just a celebration but collective action for gender equality and women’s rights.

“In many places, IWD has become commercialised and reduced to corporate hashtags, discounted products, or symbolic gestures. While recognition is important, the real spirit of the day is not symbolic empowerment - it is structural transformation. Over the years we have witnessed entities that have continued to use the opportunity for their commercial benefits with themes such as this year’s 'Give to Gain' stemming from neither the women’s movement nor the United Nations,” she said.

For the Pacific context, the real focus of IWD includes confronting high rates of gender-based violence, closing economic participation gaps, addressing climate injustice that disproportionately impacts women, ensuring access to comprehensive sexuality education, and increasing women’s representation in leadership and decision-making.

“Ultimately, IIWD is a checkpoint and a catalyst. It asks - Where are we? Who is being left behind? What must change now? It is both a celebration of resilience and a call to action for justice. The real focus is not flowers- definitely not cake! It is freedom,” the Executive Director said.

Background:

IWD began in the early 1900s through labour movements in North America and Europe, where women were organising for fair wages, voting rights, and safe working conditions. It was later recognised by the United Nations in 1975 during International Women’s Year. From its origins, IWD commemorated annually on March 8, is rooted in activism, protest, and political demand - not just recognition.

© Scoop Media