Parliamentarians have a critical role to play in ensuring this year in particular that gender equality and women’s rights are vital.

These were the words of FemLINKPACIFIC executive director and women activist Sharon Bhagwan Rolls at the 29th session of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

This morning’s session was a Women’s Forum which brought many pressing issues relating to women in Fiji and the world.

“Not just to the sustainable development goals but the connections and the importance that they have right now with the Peace and Stability goal of the new SDGs connected to the global study on Women Peace and Security in particular the 1325 Security Council resolution which has major reviews underway at the moment and connecting that to the Beijing plus 20 process."

She added that the focus is on ensuring these messages are articulated beyond forums and panels.

With the expiration of the Millennium Development Goals later this year it is important that gender equality is one of the major goals that should be included in the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals.