LocationsWomen Officers push for gender equity across Police Force
November 15, 2022
National Coordinator of the Fiji Police Women's Advisory Network, Senior Superintendent of Police, Bereta Naisua.
Suva, Fiji - Achieving greater gender balance in the Fiji Police Force remains a priority. Speaking at the opening of the Fiji Police Women’s Advisory Network meeting in Suva today, Director of Education and Training, Senior Superintendent of Police, Bereta Naisua said, “We are here to network with women, and for women, within the police force. Our women officers have demonstrated valuable professional qualities in law enforcement and public safety services, specifically when working with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.”
“The Commissioner of Fiji Police is a champion of women in the force, allowing us to come together for a meeting like this, and we look forward to taking our discussions from this meeting back to police hierarchy to discuss how we can make a better, more equal force here in Fiji,” Ms. Naisua said.
The Fiji Police Women’s Advisory Network was created in 2003 as an avenue for women officers to raise concerns, share feedback, and improve awareness as to the important role that women play within the force. However, the network didn’t really become fully operational until Senior Superintendent Naisua took on the National Coordinator role in 2020.
15 officers from across Fiji attended the Fiji Police Women's Advisory Network meeting to discuss the development of a national workplan.
Over recent months, the Network has been working to contribute to the creation of a Pacific Region workplan, but now they face the challenge of building a national workplan and its subsequent implementation here at home in Fiji.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji Project Manager, Rustam, Pulatov, said the Network served as a platform for knowledge and experience to be shared, with the vision to bring about positive change for women in the force.
“Addressing gender equality within police institutions has become an important topic in recent years. The Fiji Police Women’s Advisory Network provides a safe space for women within the force to share their knowledge and expertise, but most importantly to feel that their voice is both heard and understood,” Mr. Pulatov said.
Day Two of the programme will see 15 delegates attend the Network’s inaugural board meeting, with the agenda to focus on the structure of the first draft for a National Action Plan, as well as arrangements for a National Conference for Women in Policing.
With financial and technical support from the New Zealand Government, the project strengthens early access to justice, as well as supporting gender mainstreaming in policing practice.
With financial and technical support from the New Zealand Government, the Fiji Police Force Support Project strengthens early access to justice, as well as supporting gender mainstreaming in policing practice.
The project also supports the Fiji Police Force to strengthen early access to justice in criminal proceedings, as well a victim-centered approach. This engagement prioritises a gender responsive and human rights-based approach for vulnerable groups, and promotes gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
Through the Fiji Police Support Project, UNDP and partners aim to contribute to Fiji’s sustainable development. The Project has a focus on Sustainable Development Goal 16, which promotes just, peaceful and inclusive societies, and Goal 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.
For further media enquiries please contact:
Rustam Pulatov, Project Manager, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji; Phone: +679 3312 500; Email: rustam.pulatov@undp.org
