Improving the protection, welfare and safety of children remains an important agenda for the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, which has been guided with laws and policies by the Fijian Government and the provision of overall legal redress on issues of child abuse and neglect.
This was noted by the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Mereseini Vuniwaqa while welcoming her counterpart, Hon. Yohana Susana Yembisei, the Republic of Indonesia’s Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Protection.
“We acknowledge that our performance in this area of work is most effective due to our interagency networks with various stakeholders within Government and the civil society including faith-based organizations and we are also thankful to this friendship with the Indonesian Government to further progress in this area,” she said.
Hon. Vuniwaqa last night hosted a welcome dinner for Hon. Yembisei and other Indonesian Government delegates, who are in Fiji to attend the 4thJoint Technical Working Group (JTWG) meeting between the two country’s counterpart ministries, pertaining to a renewed agreement signed in mid-2018.
“Women’s empowerment is an important agenda for the Fijian Government and we are proud to inform that it is part of our 5-20 years National Development Plan as well. This is a guiding tool for us in nation building and we are committed to ensure that women are not left behind. For the gender agenda to become a national priority, a lot of work from a lot of agencies was required,” Hon. Vuniwaqa emphasized.
This Joint Technical Working Group will review the progress and partnership made between the two counterpart ministries from Fiji and Indonesia.
Attendees include Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Gender Equality, Hon. Agustine Erni and Deputy Minister for Community Participation, Hon. Indra Gunawan.