2 in 3 women facing violence is not just numbers, they are our mothers and sisters – Kiran

Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran highlighted that statistics reveal two in every three women in Fiji experience violence from their partners and stressed that these are not just numbers- they are our mothers, sisters, neighbours and friends.

While opening the Department for Women’s Planning and Coordination Workshop, she reminded the Ministry staff that their core responsibility is to serve people, especially women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities and juveniles.

Kiran also reminded the staff that every Ministry, as part of the Government, plays a specialised yet collective role in nation-building.

She says they must remember why their work matters.

She commended the team for their instrumental role in developing key national policies, including the National Action Plan to Prevent Gender-Based Violence and the National Action Plan for Women’s Economic Empowerment, endorsed by Cabinet this week.

The workshop will focus on planning for the new financial year and implementing the National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against All Women and Girls.

Kiran encourages officers to plan with purpose, collaborate across departments and challenge the status quo working not just as a department, but as one Ministry — committed to meaningful change in delivering more efficient and effective services for all.