WENA Partners With Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre to Strengthen Women’s Advocacy in Nauru

July 11, 2024

Fiji Women's Crisis Centre Coordinator, Ms Shamima Ali speaks to women participants during the training.

UNDP

Yaren, Nauru -The Women Empowerment Nauru Association (WENA) joined hands with the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) recently to conduct community awareness and civil society engagement on sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) and women’s rights in Nauru.

This initiative, with the assistance of local organization Unique-Lee Foundation, marks a collaborative effort among three women-centered entities aimed at enhancing advocacy and policy frameworks to support women’s rights.

Nauru, like many Pacific Island nations, faces distinct challenges in achieving gender equality and combatting gender-based violence. The partnership between WENA and FWCC not only strengthens local capacity but also nurtures a supportive environment crucial for advancing women’s leadership and addressing prevalent issues such as GBV.

Leveraging FWCC’s expertise and longstanding commitment to combating GBV across the Pacific, this collaboration is poised to bring about sustainable change.

Women Empowerment Nauru Association Chairperson, Ms Gabrissa Hartamn.

UNDP

WENA Chairperson Gabrissa Hartamn expressed optimism about the collaboration, highlighting growth and impact this will have on the community. She also emphasized the crucial support provided by the UNDP in strengthening the organization's constitution and capacity development as a new women's civil society organization.  She highlighted the importance of this support, particularly in enabling WENA to learn from established women's CSOs in the region.

"We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to have the Women's Crisis Center here in Nauru," Ms Hartamn said. "Learning from Shamima and her team has been invaluable, especially as we focus on the prevention of gender-based violence. We look forward to continued collaboration, particularly in advocating for women's leadership within the community."

This partnership underscores UNDP’s commitment to promoting gender equality through strategic alliances with women’s associations and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across the Pacific.

By empowering local communities to tackle their own challenges, UNDP aims to foster inclusive and accountable governance systems that prioritize gender-responsive policies and practices.

The training session attracted both men and women from the community and civil society organizations, demonstrating a keen interest and commitment from the community to engage with issues of gender equality and GBV.

The collaboration facilitated by UNDP’s Nauru Accountable and Inclusive Governance Project has been instrumental in establishing WENA as a key player in promoting women’s rights in Nauru, supported by enhanced skills and resources garnered through this partnership.

The ongoing efforts of WENA, FWCC, and their partners supported by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, reflect a broader movement towards empowering women and advocating for gender equality in the Pacific region.

For more information please contact:

Risiate Biudole | Communication Analyst | UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji | risiate.biudole@undp.org