The first-ever Fiji Country Gender Assessment (FCGA) report was launched by the Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka at Suva’s Grand Pacific Hotel last night.
This is the first report of its kind in the Pacific and the Asia-Pacific region.
In his official address, Prime Minister Rabuka said that the data contained in the FCGA is the result of work across the whole of government, in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including civil society and women’s rights organisations.
“The Assessment allows for access to existing data across government, resulting in a more comprehensive and accurate picture of the progress, challenges and opportunities facing our women and girls,” he highlighted.
“It also points to gaps in data landscape around critical areas such as health, education, economy, leadership, gender- based violence and climate change.
This is a significant milestone for Fiji and a testament to the dedication and collaboration of various stakeholders.”
The assessment is a project led by the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation in partnership with the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, and supported by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand.
The FCGA is expected to inform and help improve gender programmes and policies.
“It is an important step towards achieving gender equality, equity and empowering all women and girls in our country,” the Prime Minister said.
He reassured that the Assessment will be at the forefront of the Coalition Government’s efforts to create positive change for all Fijian women and girls.
“We’re going to use it to inform the upcoming Fiji National Voluntary Report to the United Nations for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 2030 Agenda,” he added.
“We’re committed to making it a leading source for transformative, inclusive and evidence-based policies and budget allocations across all government agencies to ensure that we’re investing in the areas that matter most to all Fijian women and girls.
“As your Prime Minister, I am committed to working tirelessly to make this a reality. As we move forward, let us carry the insights and recommendations of the Assessment with unwavering conviction and determination.
“We must commit to challenging discriminatory social norms, create new opportunities for all women and girls, stop violence before it happens, prompt women’s leadership and ensure that women and girls have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.”
Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Lynda Tabuya said that the report is significant to advance gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in Fiji.
“Data is a powerful tool for achieving gender equality as it enables us to track progress, identify the barriers that women and girls face, and create evidence-based solutions to address those barriers,” Minister Tabuya said.
“This data is about capturing their experiences, realities, perspectives and contributions and using that information to ensure accountability, budget investment and drive progress towards gender equality.
“This is a whole-of-government comprehensive report that provides key and updated statistics and analysis on different sectors and areas such as education, health, economy, ending violence against all women and girls, women in leadership and decision-making, social norms and environment, among others.”
Meanwhile, the assessment was facilitated by a data steering working group and a peer review committee, both of which played critical roles in the development of the report.
