2006
parties”
Fem’LINKPACIFIC
Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC)
Fiji
Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM)
Women’s Action for Change (WAC)
Major
women’s organisations in Fiji are calling on political parties to
realise
that politics is not just about politicians. Fem’LINKPACIFIC, the
Fiji
Women’s Crisis Centre, the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement and Women’s
Action
for Change are concerned that women’s views are not being
adequately
reflected in party campaigns.
”It is about every member of
the community having their views heard and
reflected in public spaces by
leaders, and this includes women and
children’s views,” said WAC Coordinator
Noelene Nabulivou.
”Civil society organisations are a legitimate part of
any democracy. When
women tell us that they do not feel included in the
process, then it is our
responsibility to raise the issue. We urge the
political parties to respond
positively to our concerns, not to attack us for
advocating for the women
and children in Fiji, who feel unheard by their
leaders,” she said.
Women’s organisations were yesterday criticised by
political parties for
pointing out the invisibility of women in the 2006
general elections.
”Political parties may include women’s issues in
their manifestos or in
campaign statements, but that is not the same as
advocating around women’s
concerns and treating these as core national
development issues,” said
FWCC Coordinator Shamima Ali.
”Last night
at the nationally televised ‘Leaders Forum’ on Fiji One there
were seven male
leaders speaking, a male interviewer, and no questions
taken from the
audience. None of the moderator questions were about
violence against women
and the word ‘woman’ was only spoken once, by Pramod
Rae, during the entire
evening”, she said.
Ali added that physical and sexual violence against
women has been
experienced by 66% of women in Fiji, and the rates of reported
sexual
assaults have increased when comparing the same six month period
of
January-June 2004 to 2005.
”This is a national crisis. This should
be a primary election issue, with
discussion and dialogue on how to deal with
this terrible social injustice
against so many women and children,” Ali
said.
Other issues like a gender-responsive budget, increasing
women’s
participation at the national decision making level, the gender
dimensions
of HIV/AIDS, reproductive health and the challenges confronting
women
living with disabilities should also be at the core of any
development
strategy.
”People are calling for a caring and
compassionate government that will
promote gender equality and peace, and
political leaders who will debate
issues of national interest rather than
espouse negative and racist remarks
especially in Parliament,” said
Fem’LINKPACIFIC Coordinator Sharon Bhagwan
Rolls.
”We urge all
candidates as well as the media to consider carefully the
style and choice of
words as you campaign – please do not incite anger and
hatred, we all know
our country does not need this and it further
marginalizes women from
actively engaging in the political process.”
Women’s organisations have
been closely following the political campaigns
and process, including through
a Women Ask survey in which political
parties outlined their strategies to
address key women’s concerns.
”The Women Ask is the only comprehensive
political party survey that
examines the many areas that impact upon women
and their families”, said
FWRM Executive Director, Virisila Buadromo. ”I
urge women to read the
results in this Saturday’s newspapers, and use the
information when they
cast their votes”.
FemLINKPACIFIC, FWCC, FWRM
and WAC urgently call on political parties and
the media to stop ignoring
women. Tell the women of Fiji how you will
address our core concerns of
violence against women, enabling legislation
for women, and women and
decision-making.
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Categories: Releases