WUNRN
FemLINKPACIFIC Special Report
15 April 2012
“12th
April 2012 marks a historic moment in
There needs to
be ongoing investment in processes led by women say the co-convenors
of the Fiji Women’s Forum as they announced plans for follow up Forum to be
convened by June 2012 which will focus on Civic
education, Temporary Special Measures to Increase women’s participation in
national and local government, the Bill of Rights and Security Sector
Governance.
Co-convened by
the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, FemLINKPACIFIC, National Council of Women and
the Soqosoqo Vakamarama I Taukei, the Women’s Forum is a very important
parallel state process road map which will monitor the state’s roadmap to
ensure compliance to all human rights conventions, rights and treaties while
also enhancing collaboration between key women’s organizations and networks to
enable and empower more women to be part of national political processes
especially from within their local communities:
“We would like
to be part of those preparatory programmes and we would like to have an input
into the curriculum of those programmes, engender those programmes, so that
those programmes are indeed participatory. And because they are participatory,
they can be labeled legitimate for us because we are talking about the process
of constitution making. And at the same time, the women would like to do this
in a safe environment, like safe spaces for this participation. Some of the
laws prohibit us from talking freely and participating freely. That’s also
something that we as forum would like to be assured of,” said the General
Secretary of the Soqosoqo Vakamarama I Taukei, Adi Finau Tabakaucoro.
She was speaking at a joint press conference convened the day after the
historic conclusion of the Women’s Forum: “The principles of participation,
transparency, accountability, respect for human rights and respect for the rule
of law are fundamental values which must be respected by every person in our
country.”
According to
the April 12th Outcomes Statement of the Fiji Women’s Forum, any new or
reformed Constitution must entrench a strong Bill of Rights which builds on the
benchmark of freedoms and rights included in the 1997 Constitution of Fiji and
integrates international human rights treaties and norms:
“The State must respect the rights to freedom of expression and freedom
of association. If people cannot meet freely and speak without fear, they will
be unable to effectively engage in the ongoing democratization process. In this
context, it is imperative that the State immediately repeal the Public Order
Amendment Decree and all other repressive decrees.”
Plans for Fiji Women’s Forum activities at divisional and provincial level will
bring together members of the National Council of Women and Soqosoqo Vakamarama
I Taukei for a series of interactive learning and advocacy training including
community radio and theatre including the development and translation of
material as part of a collective quest to achieve 50% representation by
women in political party and government.
The Outcomes Statement, say the co-convenors reiterate concerns raised
in dialogue with the representatives of the state, including Mr. Aiyaz Saiyed
Khaiyyum and Govind Sami (Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women) the
co-convenors voiced concern regarding the lack of opportunity to inform the
Terms of Reference of the Constitution Commission announced on March 9 (2012)
and also inform the development of civic education:
“Learning from the lessons of our past, we call for
a transparent process for endorsing the constitution in a collaborative and
inclusive manner ensuring that all of the peoples of
Participants concurred that any process must be
legitimate, participatory and inclusive to ensure that the democratic State has
popular sovereignty. One option they say is a National Referendum to adopt the
proposed 2013 Constitution.
For more information please contact: Sharon
Bhagwan Rolls (+6799244871)