News

Women raise issues on gender, climate and development

December 13, 2018 12:20 pm

[Source: diva4equality]

More than a 100 women from around the country as far as Qamea to Kadavu gathered in Suva over the last three days to discuss varying issues.

Called the Women Defend the Commons, this informal network deliberated on issues of gender inequality, climate justice and unsustainable development to name a few.

They also looked at practical resolutions and forged networks to collaborate on projects, one of which is a major fundraising drive to own their own transport.

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Political Adviser Noelene Nabulivou of the NGO, DIVA for Action who facilitated the workshop says it’s critical to have avenues where women are heard.

“Five districts have asked that they want to have some boats that are owned by the women. These are all the Maritime districts and they’re saying that because it’s about emergencies for women. They want to have the boats for that, but what they’re finding that sometimes when they’re coming to the Expo or other women led events, the price for the fuel goes up, the price for the boat goes up so if they had their own boats, they could do something about it. To us, that’s a great strategy and something that we can do with government is work out how we can fundraise for those boats.”

As part of the three day workshop which ended yesterday a statement was issued to the government of what the women would like actioned.

Participants came from the Yasawas, Taveuni, Qamea, Vunidogoloa and Savusavu, Macuata, Bua, Labasa, Koro, Gau, Kadavu, Levuka, Tavua, Rakiraki, Ra, Sigatoka, Lautoka, Nadi, Tailevu, Naitasiri and Suva.