It is a truly sad situation that 35 years after Independence this is the situation in which we find ourselves, with a male as Minister for Women.

These were the words of Noelene Nabulivou, coordinator of Womens Action for Change (WAC), a womens group in Fiji. WAC has expressed frustration, disappointment, and objection over the Fiji governments
inability to identify and appoint a woman as cabinet member to head its Ministry for Women, Social Welfare and Housing.

Nabulivou, however, has announced that WAC will, of course, work constructively with the appointed minister, George Shiu Raj, and that the organization is still hoping that critical ongoing work on violence
against women and advances towards the improvement of the status of women in the country will continue. Nevertheless, she expressed concern over Fijis falling way below the 30% global target of women in decision-making. Women lawmakers in Fiji currently occupy just 8% of the total seats, while the new Cabinet merely includes two women members Ro Teimumu Kepa for the Ministry for Education, Youth and Sports, and Adi Sivia Qoro for the Ministry for Commerce and Industry.

Reminding the Fiji government officials and citizens of the importance of womens political participation in nation-building, Nabolivou said, Women will only enter politics if they feel that they will be truly included in both formal and informal decision-making processes in Fiji. So if political parties and the government are genuinely interested in empowering women, they will now adequately resource the Ministry for Women, build genuine linkages with diverse womens rights organisations, focus on at risk and marginalised groups of women, nurture womens rights and empowerment work, address violence against women and most importantly, ensure that this is not the situation at the next election.

The Fiji Women's Rights Movement (FWRM), on the other hand, congratulated Shui Raj on his appointment. FWRM, which works for law reforms to empower women, said it looks forward to working with the minister on reviewing the National Women's Plan of Action and on improving the status of women in Fiji. The organisation called on the minister to begin consultations to prepare for Fiji's next report to the UN Committee on the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which has been overdue. But FWRM has been one with WAC in expressing disappointment over the appointment of only 2 women as Cabinet members.

The appointment of Cabinet members has followed Fijis week-long 2006 elections which started 6 May and ended 13 May this year. Prior to the elections, major womens groups in the countryFem'LINKPACIFIC, the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, FWRM, and WACissued a joint statement calling on political parties to include the issues of women in their political agenda.

Criticised by political parties for pointing out the invisibility of women in the 2006 general elections, the womens groups, in a joint statement, said, [political parties should realise that]  politics is not just about politicians. [We] are concerned that women's views are not being adequately reflected in party campaigns. [Politics] is about every member of the community having their views heard and reflected in
public spaces by leaders, and this includes womens and children's viewsCivil 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.

Sources:

Fiji Womens Right Movement (FWRM). 23 May 2006. FWRM Congratulates New Minister for Women (FWRM press release).

Womens Action for Change (WAC). 23 May 2006. Local Womens Organisation Objects to Male Minister for Women in Fiji (WAC press release).

Fem'LINKPACIFIC, Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC), Fiji Women's Rights Movement (FWRM), and Women's Action for Change (WAC). 18 May 2006. Politics Is Not Just About Politicians and Parties (Joint statement).
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