A delegation representing the Fijian Government is attending the 3rd Session of the Committee on Social Development at UNESCAP in Bangkok from 18-20 August.
The meeting serves as the preparatory meeting for the Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Beijing+20 Review, which will be held in Bangkok from 10-14 November 2014.
Pita Tagicakirewa, Counsellor with the Fiji High Commission in Malaysia, who is representing the Fijian Government, delivered Fiji’s country statement during the meeting.
“The combination of measures in the region, in particular redistributive policies, the enhancement of social protection, and the promotion of productive and decent work, especially for women, have been continuously addressed by the Fijian government over the past few years. In particular, the enhancement of social protection has been an important focus area, which, hopefully will contribute to further reducing the poverty level in Fiji”, Counsellor Tagicakirewa said.
“A 2011 World Bank Report on “Assessment of the Social Protection System in Fiji and Recommendations for Policy Changes” guided the Fijian Government’s direction in enhancing social protection. This led to a review of current programmes and the introduction of new initiatives to bolster our social protection programme. As a result, poverty mapping and family assistance schemes have been progressively streamlined”, added Counsellor Tagicakirewa.
“Fiji recently introduced a National Minimum Wage which is expected to address inequality in income, especially amongst women, in the informal sector. The recently introduced free education programme from pre-school to secondary level will, in the long run, address inequality in access to education.
Families that previously could not afford education at these levels are now benefitting from this programme. Fiji’s new Constitution, which was promulgated in 2013, is our principal document that seeks to redress inequality across key population groups. Legislations, policies and strategies that will emanate from this document should support the current “leveling the playing field” approach that the Fijian Government has been implementing. Cabinet recently approved Fiji’s National Gender Policy,” said Counsellor Tagicakirewa.
The outcome of the Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Beijing+20 Review will feed into the review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action during the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, to be held in New York next year.
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