WHAT'S ON AND WHERE...IN FIJI FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2004

February 2004 – (femLINKpacific) Please note more information on rural based activities will be released next week:

This year at a national level, government departments, members of the UN family and women's groups are collaborating for what will be a week of
activities, not only in the capital city, but at a local level as well.

The theme for the National IWD 2004 Committee is "Women United for Peace, Security and HIV/AIDS Free Fiji" which links together national and global priorities and themes, during a month when in New York, at the 48th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, attention willbe focused on the theme women's equal participation in conflict prevention, management and conflict resolution and in post-conflict peace-building. Furthermore, momentum is gathering towards the fourth anniversary of Resolution 1325 (31 October 2004), when the Secretary-General will report to the Security Council on the status of its implementation.

The global theme for IWD 2004 is "Women and HIV/AIDS". The inclusion of the "women and peace theme" into the national celebrations also recognises the initiatives to date by Fiji's Women, Peace and Security Coordinating Committee which was established in May 2003. It would also be worth noting that "Peace" is also one of the 14 priority areas identified in the Pacific Platform for Action, set for discussion and review in the upcoming SPC Triennial meeting in May.

The colour scheme for the week is purple (women), white (peace) and red (HIV/Aids), a everyone - business houses, community groups and schools are encouraged to 'sport these colours' during the week in solidarity for Peace, Security and an HIV-Aids free Fiji !!!

The capital city will host the national celebrations which begin with a march of solidarity at 10am on March 8th culminating at the Suva Civic
Centre for the official opening and launching of the week.

PRE EVENT Activities:

Friday, March 5th is the International World Day of Prayer and women across Fiji will be uniting in this global commemoration. For more information please contact Marama Sovaki at St Christopher's Home

Saturday 06 March 2004 : Women in Sports is inviting Federations/Associations. Business Houses, Schools, Government Departments, NGO's, Women's Groups etc to participate in this Sports day for Women. The Aims and Objectives of the Women in Sport Committee are : To Increase
and enhance sports and fitness opportunities for all girls and women and create an educated public that supports gender equity in all areas of sport including administration and at NOC level; To be a resource body for women and sport and to facilitate research on relevant matters; To act as a liaison for local and international matters pertaining to Women in Sport based on the Brighton Declaration.
Contact: Susie Yee, Ph: (679) 3311622 / 9965951

The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre opens the doors of its relocated western office in Nadi on Saturday 06 March, Contact: Shamima Ali on 3313320

Monday 08 March 2004, March of Solidarity "Women United for Peace, Security and HIV/AIDS Free Fiji": Join the Ministry of Women, women's NGOs and civil society supporters for a march of solidarity which will lead the way in the series of activities planned for the week ! Gather at the Flea Market at 9am and march to the Suva Civic Centre for the official opening of the week by the Attorney General, Honorable Qoroniasi Bale at 10am at the Upper Auditorium
Contact: Kiti Makasiale / Alisi Qaiqaica, Ministry of Women, Ph 3312199

The Fiji Women's Rights Movement will launch its research on Young Women Contact Anna Padarath on 3313156

The Soqosoqo Vakamarama is hosting an afternoon tea party at its Nabua Head Office from 3pm. All invited to contribute to this fundraising event

The UN Resident Representative and the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat will jointly launch the UN Inter Agency Task Force new publication "Profiles of Pacific Women" at the Fale of the Forum Secretariat from 5 to 8pm.
Contact Amelia Siamomua, UNIFEM Pacific Ph 3301178

The annual Reclaim the Night March, organized by the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre will be staged again ! Contact: Shamima Ali on 3313320 ...Workshops from March 9th ...Women, Peace and Security - Our Issues, a discussion and dialogue forum organized by the Fiji Women, Peace and Security Coordinating Committee at the Crypt, Sacred Heart Cathedral, ends on Wednesday 10 March Contact: Koila Costello Olsson, ECREA, Phone 33017588 or femLINKpacific on 3316290 / 9244871

CEDAW and the Women's Plan of Action workshop, organized by UNIFEM in conjunction with the Ministry of Women. Venue is JJ's on the Park. Continues until 11 March Contact: Laisa Bale at UNIFEM Pacific on 3301778 or Kiti Makasiale, Ministry for Women on 3312199

Floral Art & Craft: An Opportunity for Income Generation and Economic Empowerment at the Wesley Church Hall, continues until 11 March Contact:
Merewalesi Baleinayavutoka, Ministry of Women, on 3312199

Reproductive Health & HIV / AIDS workshop, with a special focus on adolescent reproductive health at the Soqosoqo Vakamarama Head Office,
Nabua, organized in partnership with UNFPA, UNAIDS and SPC continues until 11 March Contact: Lorna Rolls, UNFPA on 33018022

...Women's Craft and Information Exhibition, from Thursday 11 March ...What Can Women Do? What are Women Doing about economic empowerment, energy and ICTS ...at the Women's Craft and Information Exhibition which will be staged from Thursday 11 March to Saturday 13 March at the Lower Civic Auditorium
Contact: Kiti Makasiale or Alisi Qaiqaica, Ministry of Women, Ph 3312199

UNV Media Forum from 9am, Thursday 11 March, Contact Sainiana Waqainabete (Ph 3300399)

...The Week's Wrap Up:

Saturday March 13th: Join the Ministry of Women, women's groups, members of the UN family and civil society friends at the closing of the week's
activities from 10am at the Lower Civic Auditorium from 10am. The Chief Guest is the Honorable Asenaca Caucau, Minister for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation

Saturday 13 and Sunday 14th March: "The Prophetic Mission of Women in addressing Violence against Women and illegal Trafficking of Women and Girls" will be the focus of the Catholic Women's League preparatory workshop for their members as they prepare to host the Asia Pacific Regional Meeting for the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations (WUCWO) from May 2 - 7, 2004. Venue: Raiwaqa Catholic Church Contact: Susana Evening on 3361812

Compiled by femLINKpacific: Media Initiatives for Women, for the IWD National Planning Committee, 190204