Women candidates of the Fiji Labour Party, National Federation Party, the People’s Alliance, SODELPA and Unity Fiji have raised concerns about the level of gender based violence in Fiji and say their respective parties have policies that will address these issue.
While responding to a question on gender equality and gender justice focused policies during a debate between women candidates of these parties on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, NFP candidate, Lenora Qereqeretabua says their vision for domestic safety and empowerment of women and girls is through partnership with NGOs and groups that have been working in areas that pertain to domestic violence and not working against them as this Government tends to do.
She says they also want to do this through targeted legislation, community engagement and the support to reduce domestic violence and abuse of women and children.
Qereqeretabua says we need strong government support for NGO advocacy.
People’s Alliance Deputy Leader, Lynda Tabuya says there is a need to continue to educate men and boys about how to respect women and raise boys so that they are not turning to pornography or substance abuse but are finding meaningful ways to occupy their time.
Tabuya further says family planning must be available for women and there is a need to bring back the program where women have a choice.
She says women need to be empowered regarding SMEs and home based businesses which we saw boom during COVID.
Tabuya says there has been a disconnect for those who have come out of COVID as there has not really been a program to take them to the next level and as a Government they will be committed to empower businesses to go to the next level so that they are not only dealing with unpaid care, they also have businesses they can run from home to sustain a second income for their families.
She further says we also need to inculcate equal work opportunities.
Tabuya adds she is proud to be in a party that has a leader that has put forward a woman as the Deputy Party Leader and adds it takes male advocates to stand up for and prop up women as leaders.
Unity Fiji candidate, Litiana Bulivou says they are looking at main-streaming gender into all sectors of the Government as one of their strategies and ensuring that whatever policies are being created will include equality so that they can have equal opportunities.
Fiji Labour Party candidate, Taina Rokotabua says they believe women should play a full active role in the political, economical, cultural and social life in Fiji.
She says FLP will set up a Gender Equality Commission which will run independently from the Government and work closely with the NGOs.
Rokotabua says they will review existing legislation to end discrimination against women and non-binary genders and ensure new laws firmly represent all genders, including men.
She says they will also ensure that women in informal sectors are paid statutory wages and adds they believe family courts should be well resourced to effectively deal with cases to ensure compliance and introduce a mediating service.
SODELPA candidate, Ana Rokomokoti says their government will set aside $138 million for the initiatives that it has created under the portfolio of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation.
She says some of the initiatives they will come up with include the poverty alleviation project to increase grants to NGOs, review the monitoring policies, establish a Disability Tribunal, establish fusion centres for SMEs and vulnerable groups, promotion of women leadership in the public sector and Parliament, advocating zero tolerance on violence against women or men and have a domestic violence helpline.
While responding to Rokotabua, Rokomokoti says SODELPA recognises that there are only two sexes, female and male.
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