LocationsEsteemed Deputy Police Commissioner Itendra Nair
Senior Superintendent of Police Bereta Naisua
New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner
Distinguished guests
Bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all
First of all, my gratitude to the Fiji Police Force for hosting today’s event on International Women’s Day. Each year, the UN outlines the specific theme for this day. And in 2022, the theme is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. This is to recognize that without gender equality today, a sustainable future, an equal future, remains out of our reach.
The Global world has reaffirmed its commitment to the gender equality in many areas. For instance, a visionary Beijing Declaration on empowerment of women, and many following frameworks: Sendai Agreement on Disaster Risk Reduction; the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing sustainable development, Paris Climate Change Agreement and of course Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Being at the headquarters of the Fiji Police Force, of course, I should also mention UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and supporting UN Resolution 2242 on integration of the women and peace and security agenda into each country specific situations.
Let me talk a little more about SDGs - the SDGs address important structural drivers of gender inequality (via SDG5 and other). They include targets on eliminating gender-based violence, child marriage, and female genital mutilation; and calls for equal rights to economic resources, including access to land and property; equal leadership opportunities; and a more prominent role for women in peace and state building. I think that most key targets are relevant for Fiji as well.
Gender equality agenda is relevant for many areas that are of a concern to Fiji. If we take climate change crisis – women and girls often experience the greatest impact of it. It amplifies existing gender inequalities and puts women’s lives and livelihoods at risk. Across the world, women depend more on natural resources, yet have less access to it and often bear a disproportionate responsibility for securing food, water, and fuel.
It is also noted across the globe that sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) increases during and after disasters[1]. The Pacific region, where two out of three girls experience violence at least once in their lifetime, is no exception to this trend.
UNDP supports and implement a growing number of gender equality and women’s empowerment initiatives across the Pacific Region, and the Fiji Police Support Project is one of these examples. UNDP through this Project recognizes and highlights the efforts made by women police officers to advance gender equality in the institution and wider society along with their male colleagues. The Fiji Police Force contribution to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goal 5 and 16 to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies is significant. We are grateful to the Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho who has assumed his role as a role model for the advancement of gender equality commemorating the International Women’s Day.
Women play a crucial role in the justice sector especially in preventing and responding to domestic and sexual and gender-based violence in Fiji, being often a first point of contact for survivors of the violence. Policewomen officers especially are well-placed to identify and implement more inclusive and sustainable solutions. We are sure that the Fiji Police Force will continue strengthening the representation of women in decision-making positions, so more women are appointed to the directors’ posts, as currently there are 2 women directors out of 13. Getting more women into decision-making positions is one of the indications of the institutional and behavioral change in a society. Taking the occasion of this International Day, we hope that the Fiji Police Force will act as a champion to promote policewomen officers at all levels and take action for equality against bias, discrimination and stereotypes.
Going forward in the fight against SGBV, as well as in our battle for a more sustainable future, we must be aware of the interconnections between gender inequalities and development interventions. The building back better and building forward together for post COVID-19 will be a failed opportunity if we miss to include women in their role of powerful leaders and change-makers, able to significantly contribute to peace, security and justice at community, country and global levels. We must prioritize gender responsive and human rights-based approach to access to justice for vulnerable groups and promote gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.
With these final words, I thank you all for joining the celebration of women’s achievements during the International Women’s Day.
Vinaka vakalevu
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[1] Official statistics is tricky - The year 2021 recorded a total of 981 domestic violence cases against women and children while the year 2020 recorded 1,074 domestic violence cases. This is a decrease of 9% in 2021 when compared to the previous year. If only women, 836 in 2020, 808 in 2021.