Women Speaking to Women for Peace: No More Violence

November 22, 2004 -(femLINKpacific) Planning has begun for a femTALK 89.2fm commemorative broadcast for the 16 days of activism against gender violence (November 25-December 10 2004), Sunday, 28 November 2004.

Participants, all women, from a range of women’s and community based organisations heard today (24 November) that in addition to the Health angle to this year's theme, a secondary theme is also on violence against women and HIV/AIDS. This will link into the United Nations General Assembly Special Session in 2006 which provides the 5-year review on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It also links into the World AIDS day on December 1 theme of Women and HIV/AIDS.

Addressing the theme, in the consultation funded by UNESCO, in preparation for the mobile “suitcase radio” broadcast, on Sunday.

Representatives from the National Council of Women Fiji, the Poor Relief Society, the Fiji Disabled People’s Association Women’s Group, Catholic Women’s League Fiji, FRIENDS, Virtues Fiji, Youth Parliament reps, Fiji Media Watch, WIN-Net Fiji, ECREA and the People for Intercultural Awareness, have interpreted this theme from their personal, organisational and community perspective, and say that for them, “For the health of women, for the health of the world: no more violence”means:

• Having more awareness about different forms of violence experienced by disabled women.

• Ability of women to articulate rationally as well as independently.

• Ordinary women do not just have right to information but also to have the right to interpret the information.

• Being able to identify the problems and being able to create an environment to talk about it openly.

• Real challenge to HIV/AIDS prevention is the conflict with religious teaching and the promotion of condom use.

• Ensuring the safety of women in this troubled world.

• What are the health costs of VAW?

• Women’s health & poverty &  VAW

• Eliminate violence

• Need for a compassionate, just and inclusive society

• Give women the right to physical and mental well-being

• A just society = women’s equal presence in society, respect and protect women’s values.

• Improving our communication and leadership skills to EVAW & combat HIV/AIDS

• The education of women should be a highest priority.

• Raising awareness with/for young women in rural communities

• We have a right to information and a responsibility to communicate/share

• Violence must be eliminated to allow women to allow peaceful and healthy living – it is not just about women’s rights but human rights - speak and act!!!!

• Educate society to respect values of women in an understandable way (inclusive)

• Be sensible about life because you cannot rewind time.

The community radio consultation participants will now finalise their programme format and prepare information for their live broadcast on Sunday when they plan to address the global campaign’s theme with a series of hour long segments on femTALK 89.2fm including:

• Eliminating Violence Against Women by educating society, including through media education

• Human rights/Legal rights and Legislation

• Women living with Disabilities

• Discussion with health experts

• Education for all

• Men against Violence

• Women’s Reproductive Health Rights

• Eliminating Violence Against Women  and addressing HIV/AIDS prevention – a women’s interfaith perspective

The community radio consultation, which is being organised by femLINKpacific (Media Initiatives for Women) includes participants from Labasa, Sigatoka, Lautoka and Ba and is being funded by an IPDC grant from UNESCO. It is being staged at the Crypt of the Sacred Heart Cathedral inSuva.


Circulated by: femLINKpacific