The National Council of Women

November 15, 2004 -(femlinkPACIFIC) It is time to make good on the international, regional and national commitments to women and decision making, no more lip service, say participants at the Fiji National Consultation on Women in Decision Making which began in Nadi today (15 November):

“We had enough workshops, enough strategies worked out. I think we start implementing them and for women like me who have been in the political arena for a while. I think it reminds us of theirs still a lot work to be done and it is very disheartening to see that figure,” said Priscilla Singh.

She was responding to statistics presented by the Public Service Commission on the representation of women on the membership of boards and communities, participants are keenly sharing ideas and strategies for a national plan of action which will effectively address these gender inequalities.

According to participant Ratu Meli Vesikula, the relationship between male and female membership is very poor and pitiful:  
"The statistics show that women are being represented on the board and communities with only 20 percentages as compared to men 70-80 percent. It’s a national disgrace to have that kind of situation. It’s a great imbalance and injustice,"said Vesikula.

According to Vesikula, women do not deserve this and as a nation,Fijihas failed to recognize the importance of the input of 50
percent of the population (women):  “We have neglected a huge percentage of their input judging from that kind of figures.

And that should not be the case we should all act together. We should recognize that we are doing ourselves a disservice by not recognizing the possible input of 50 percent of our population from ladies. And we have got to recognize that and do something to put it together we need to readdress.”

Data collated by the Public Service Commission, and presented to the consultation was based on appointments from 2003, and highlighted the following numbers of women appointed to a range of committees and boards:

Advisory Committee – 6, Board – 89, Board of Governors – 14, Board of Visitors – 49, Commission – 16, Committees – 34, Visiting Committees – 10, Councils – 56, Rural local authorities – 16, Tribunals – 11 (see following page)

“Its pathetic and a national disaster” said participant Wati Seeto-Dubain. “The current statistics is a clear reflection of what has been happening I think this meeting is good to come up with, some creative strategies in which we can implement what we already been discussing so that in 3-5 years time the statistics does not remain the same as it is.”  

Ms Seeto-Dubain agreed with many of the participants and also the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Commission, that the outcomes of the consultation should be presented to a round-table of chief executive officers to ensure they are more aware of their policy obligations to women’s equality.

Participants at the consultation are already mooting the idea that one of the key performance indicators for Chief Executive Officers of Government ministries should be their attainment of the gender equality targets and commitments.

Mrs. Suruj Mati Nand also identified the need for a lot more community awareness and training, especially to assist women to overcome many of the cultural, traditional and attitudinal obstacles towards women: “Culture prohibits our women to be vocal and come forward these are very reasons that this is the situation today”, said Mrs Nand.

It would all make for a better country, says Ratu Meli Vesikula: “Our country will be so much to be better for it because our population, who have not been used properly they will be there, preaching their abilities, talents, gifts, labour, skills. And it should double the productivity in every sense. And whatever it takes to achieve that, to retrench this drastic problem”

Meanwhile, Public Service Commission CEO, Anare Jale highlighted the recent appointment of Dr. Parul Deoki (President of the Stri Sewa Sabha) to the Public Service Commission

From: femlinkpac@connect.com.fj