The Ministry of Women is currently having consultations with government ministries in coordinating information gathering for the preparation of Fiji’s 2nd Follow up State CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) Report.
The report which will be presented to the United Nations CEDAW Committee in New York next month, will look at the various measures and areas that have been implemented by the Fijian government to highlight Fiji’s progress in committing to the Convention.
Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Jiko Luveni said this Report emanates from the Concluding Observation No. 13 which states that “the Committee urges State party to ensure the protection of human rights...including women human rights defenders and their right to freedom of expression.”
“The report will reflect government’s position in upholding the rights of women, including women human right defenders and their right to freedom of expression”, Dr Luveni said.
“This will also report on the uplifting of the Public Emergency Regulations and the suspension of section 8 of the Public Order Act that gives provision for all women to freely participate in constitutional consultations and have right to freedom of expression. The Media Decree has provisions that enforce the work undertaken by government to protect and promote women around the country,” Dr Luveni said.
Dr Luveni said her Ministry is working closely with the Solicitor General’s Office and other government agencies, who work within the ambits of the issues, for the drafting of the responses on Concluding Observation No. 13.
“This consultative preparatory work process towards the compilation of 5th State Periodic Report on CEDAW that is due in 2014 is progressing well,” Dr Luveni said.