Women’s Minister, Mereseini Vuniwaqa [Source: Fijian Parliament]

The progressive increase in the Ministry of Women’s budget clearly indicates the current government’s commitment for gender equality.

Women’s Minister, Mereseini Vuniwaqa, says their current budget has enabled the ministry to deal with this issue.

“Up until 2012, our budget was sitting at $300,000 per year, and that is a clear indication of the importance of gender equality in relation to us as a nation. But I’m proud to say that in this current year, we are sitting at $7.3million.”

Vuniwaqa says the government is taking concrete steps to ensure it accords with the national obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women.

Some of the major projects include Markets for Change and the Barefoot College.