MEDIA RELEASE #5 ON BEHALF OF THE WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY COORDINATING COMMITTEE (FIJI)

December 4, 2003 – (femLINKpacific) "It is time to put in place practical action for conflict prevention", said participants at the 5 day training workshop organized by the Women Peace and Security Coordinating Committee (Fiji) on Conflict Prevention and Early Warning at the Lagoon Resort, Pacific Harbour which ends Friday (05 December), "and this must ensure that all stakeholders, especially women, are involved in the current National Security and Defence Review, because we have a stake in peace and we have a stake in security."

The participants were responding to a presentation by representatives of the National Security and Defence Review, which provided them with a comprehensive understanding of the current phase of the review, as well as the developments that will follow, in particular the implementation stage of the review's recommendations. The National Security and Defence Review is presently in its second phase and participants are formulating their
collective and individual submissions for the review committee:

"We take note that the Fiji Government Strategic Development Plan highlights that government has adopted a mainstreaming approach on gender issues which requires a concerted effort to remove the gender gaps in many areas, including structural mechanisms and attitudinal barriers, which work against improving the status of women, and this includes national security and defence issues."

The review will include the establishment of a national security framework that links all stakeholders by the end of 2003:

"Therefore whatever is recommended by the Review Committee must take into account the needs, aspirations and inclusion of women. Not only in response to the role that women have played as peacebuilders, but to ensure that we effectively see the implementation of the Fiji Government's commitment in the Women's Plan of Action as well as in the Strategic Development Plan to ensure women's accessibility and full participation in power structures and decision making bodies."

The participants have reiterated the need to undertake widespread awareness raising of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 titled Women, Peace and Security, to ensure that formal and traditional decision making bodies understand the need for women's equal participation in peace and security:

"We want to ensure sustainable peace, and that means that we must also bring our perspective from the village and rural groups to the national
associations that we represent and have it included in the report that will be submitted to the Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration and the
National Security Council."

Members of the WPS Fiji committee include: the Ministry of Women (Chair), Soqosoqo Vakamarama I Taukei, National Council of Women Fiji, the Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy (ECREA), Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, Fiji Women's Rights Movement, Young Women's Christian Association, Pan Pacific South East Asia Women's Association - Fiji Chapter (PPSEAWA Fiji), Fiji Association of Women Graduates, Catholic Women's League, Stri Sewa Sabha, National Council for Disabled Persons.

Please direct your media requirements to WPS Fiji Secretary Sharon Bhagwan Rolls on 9244871