The Ministry of Education last week conducted a workshop on the theme Empowering Women for a Culture of Peace and Non Violence.
The workshop is a stride by UNESCO together with the Ministry of Education to conceive policies that will address the issue of gender inequality at the national level and in particular at the school level. This workshop is a follow up to the regional workshop on women empowerment that was hosted in Nadi in June this year.
The Ministry of Education permanent secretary Dr Brij Lal was chief guest last week to officially open the workshop attended by selected students, teachers and youth reps at the Hexagon Hotel in Nadi.
In addressing the participants, Dr Lal stressed that they now are the agents of change to go forth to groom and influence a society that will culture peace and non violence.
“A culture of peace will generate a mindset that is prerequisite for the transition from conflict and violence to dialogue and peace.
This workshop should promote increased dialogue between leaders in the school and in the community with policy makers on the contributions that culture and heritage can make in addressing issues of gender inequality and reducing gender based violence,” commented Dr Lal.
“I hope that you will be able to use these two days to network with your peers to advance gender issues through culturally-sensitive approaches. These networks will, I am sure, become a source of strength and motivation to succeed. I am also adamant that these discussions will inform existing and future plans of action, and will be a means to enhance the opportunities and quality of dialogue among the key stakeholders of our nation. In particular, I hope that the results of this workshop will help with the implementation of national plan reflecting the ideas of culture emerging from this workshop,” said the Permanent Secretary.
The workshop was made possible through the collaboration of UNESCO, Ministry of Education, Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Ministry of Women and the Fiji Police Force in a bid to curb gender inequality and gender based violence at the grassroots level. The two day workshop ended on Friday the 13th of December.
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