On this International Women's Day 2025, we explore the theme “For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” We pause to take stock, remember our foremothers, their struggles, and triumphs.
While we recognise the incredible achievements and contributions of women in every walk of life, we acknowledge there is a lot of work ahead to ensure that every woman, every girl, no matter where she comes from or what challenges she faces, is empowered to live a life of dignity, free from violence, and filled with opportunity.
Gender equality and the empowerment of women are not only fundamental human rights but also powerful drivers to secure equitable economy and sustainable development across all aspects, from inclusive growth to peaceful societies.
In our nation, we know that the struggle for gender equality is ongoing, whether our women live in rural, maritime, or urban centres. For those living with disability, challenges are further exacerbated.
Women carry the weight of unpaid care work—nurturing families, managing households, and ensuring the well-being of future generations—but their contributions often go unnoticed. Yet, these contributions are the foundation of our society. We must create a world where women’s work is not only acknowledged but supported, where equal pay and equal opportunity are the norm, not the exceptions.
Women who work in construction, trade, and science are breaking glass ceilings yet have to struggle to get recognition, and some face barriers to business registration. Every woman should have the chance to succeed and thrive in the workforce, with the freedom to make choices about her career, her future, and her life.
Gender-based violence, including online abuse and cyberbullying, pose devastating and pervasive threat that robs women of their safety, their dignity. We must do everything in our power to support survivors and build a culture where violence is not only condemned but eradicated. We recognise the need to establish support groups and economic pathways for women faced with gender violence. We call on our community leaders to take responsibility and set up prevention committees in our communities to protect young girls and women from violence being perpetrated in our society.
We need to ensure our women have access and support for emotional, mental, and physical health. While we fight against reproductive cancers, we must ensure that young mothers have care and support to deal with postpartum, ageing women have care for menopause-related health services, and older women are protected from abuse. Each one of us can take responsibility to do our part.
We also need to work on supporting women’s leadership, including on boards and in politics. Whether in government, business, or community organisations, women bring unique perspectives, strength, and wisdom that are essential to the decisions that shape our world. We must continue to break down the barriers that keep women from rising to leadership positions. When women lead, society flourishes.
The Fiji Government has embraced gender-responsive budgeting—a commitment that ensures our public policies and resources are aligned with the needs of women and girls.
Our investment in women’s rights, their education, their health, and their futures will pay dividends for generations to come. While we have a National Disability Policy and a National Action Plan on Prevention of Gender-Based Violence and are working on a National Action Plan on Women’s Economic Empowerment, it is important that these policies are put into practice at all levels. Our ministry will be supporting and strengthening women’s forums at District Level to ensure we listen to the voices of our women and our programs and policies reach the grassroots.
Let us not forget that the fight for gender equality is a shared responsibility. Men and boys must stand beside us, not as spectators, but as partners in this movement. They must be part of the solution, not part of the problem. When men and boys commit to standing against violence, respecting women’s rights, and breaking down harmful gender stereotypes, they help create a world where equality is the foundation, not the aspiration.
This International Women’s Day let us commit to creating a future where the rights, equality, and empowerment of every woman and girl are not distant dreams, but living, breathing realities. I call on every woman to help lift each other up, be the support for another woman—together we can build a dream of an equitable society!
Let this day fuel our commitment to a Fiji where gender equality is not just a goal but a lived reality for all.
Hon. Sashi Kiran
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Fiji