FIJI ISLANDS:A RESPONSE TO THE LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF BUILDING A BETTER FIJI TODAY

January 16, 2008 - (femLINKPACIFIC) The Interim Prime Minister / Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ willingness to consider establishing a specific working group to review the role of the military in Fiji as part of the process of the People’s Charter is a welcome move, and a positive indication of addressing and curbing the coup cycle culture in Fiji. It will also be an opportunity to review the security sector in Fiji and contribute to the desired conflict transformation process in Fiji says femLINKPACIFIC Coordinator, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls:

“This will certainly contribute to the process of constructive engagement and dialogue, especially with women’s peace groups and those of us who have been trying to introduce an additional perspective on security sector issues since the National Security Defence Review in 2003. The role of the military in the lead up to and after the elections was one of the key issues raised in the initial responses of femLINKPACIFIC and the National Council of Women Fiji to the proposed People’s Charter last year. This potential for engagement is an opportunity to bring in a gender perspective on the issue.”

femLINKPACIFIC is also an affiliate of the National Council of Women Fiji and has been a consistent advocate of UN Security Council resolution 1325 (Women, Peace and Security).

“It was also heartening to hear the inclusion of Peace, in the all the speeches this morning and the collective commitment to working within the ambits of the 1997 Constitution. We also hope, as the Archbishop pointed out this morning, that the work of the Council over the next 12 months will be an opportunity to truly listen to the voices of the communities, too often marginalized in past decision making processes, and that this will be in a manner that reflects our multi-faith society, so that we can heal the wounds of the past and ensure a positive future for our children. But to make this happen there is a need for greater consideration to be given to further democratizing information and communication systems. To date, the initial local consultations by the Charter Secretariat has not been inclusive of women’s participation. And so our organisation will be working very hard to use our community media forms, especially our community radio broadcasts – to enable women in our target rural communities to be heard.”