The overall goal of this policy is to promote gender equity, equality, social justice and sustainable development in the Republic of Fiji. The Government of Fiji is committed to removing gender inequality in Fiji. This Policy, endorsed by Cabinet, aims to:
- Improve the quality of life of men, women, boys and girls, at all levels of society through the promotion of gender equity and equality.
- Reinforce the inextricable links between gender equality and sustainable development goals in national development.
- Promote active and visible gender mainstreaming in all sectors and within civil society to ensure agency for gender equity and equality in all spheres of national life.
- Remove all forms of gender inequality and gender discrimination in Fiji.
This Policy aims to improve awareness among policy makers, planners, implementers and the general public of the provisions of the local and international instruments related to gender, and to identify strategies to implement these instruments. It provides a written commitment by government which the population can monitor and evaluate. It recognises that gender equality is a fundamental human right, and that it is an inherent component of economic growth and development. It recognises that ethnicity, disability, religion and gender often intersect and create a multiplicity of sources of discrimination against women in Fiji.
This policy intends to promote gender equality in all aspects of Fiji’s development, and to eradicate or modify institutional and social barriers to such equality. The policy is consistent with the 2013 Constitution of Fiji, and with ratified international conventions
and instruments.
Specifically, this Policy aims:
- To promote the development of women’s human rights in accordance with Fiji’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and its General Recommendations, and all other conventions and international laws relevant to women.
- To incorporate and to integrate a gender perspective in all development planning and decision making processes as the strategy for promoting gender equity and ‘fairness’ so that development planning itself becomes fundamentally gendered.
- To establish a system of gender mainstreaming which binds all sectors of government, and guides community and faith based organisations, women’s and men’s organisations.
- To provide policy makers and other key actors involved with human and social development, with guidelines for identifying and addressing gender concerns in order to inform public policy, including guidelines on the evaluation of the social division of labour.
- To identify and strengthen institutions in Fiji which promote and protect the human rights of women, in particular in relation to gender-based violence.
- To transform material conditions to achieve economic, social and physical security of men and women, including conditions which will build peace
- To facilitate legislative change and public awareness of relevant legislation and their implications.
