Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya has condemned a statement made in a letter to the editor printed in the Fiji Times edition on Sunday 10th December, which body shames the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Lenora Qereqeretabua and demeans her as a woman leader.
In a statement, Tabuya says as the Minister for Women, a female Member of Parliament and a colleague, she holds Fiji Times equally responsible for publishing such a discriminatory statement, especially at the end of the global 16 Days of Activism to combat Violence Against Women with the theme Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.
She says this shameful action by the Fiji Times sets us back decades in our efforts to fight patriarchy, and raise the visibility of and empower women into positions of leadership.
The Minister adds as we work hard to restore democracy to local government and municipalities, as well as try to encourage more women to run for national leadership, the concerted efforts to engage women to stand for local government elections get undermined by such irresponsible publishing.
Tabuya calls on the Fiji Times to issue a public apology to Qereqeretabua, and she wishes to assure all women that she stands behind them as their Minister and comrade to continue the fight against patriarchy and the continued violence that women and girls face both online and offline.
We have sent questions to the Fiji Times. They are yet to respond.
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