Discussions focused on the recognition of Human Trafficking as a form of gender-based violence, and how such issues might be addressed through Fiji’s National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.
The workshop, organised by the Ministry of Women, Children & Poverty Alleviation, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Women and the European Union (EU), was held in Nadi on Friday 10 December 2021 with participants from the Ministry of Defence, National Security and Policing, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Transport, UN Women, civil society partners and private sector.
The IOM and Homes of Hope, an organisation that provides long-term care, support, and holistic restoration for girls, young women and children who are victims of or are vulnerable to forced sex, have been collaborating since 2020 through the ‘Empowering Fijian Civil Society in Countering Trafficking in Human Beings’ project with funding support from the EU to build the capacity of the Government and civil society organisations in preventing human trafficking in Fiji and protecting the rights of victims of trafficking.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific, Dr Erja Askola reminded participants that Human Trafficking is a violation of human rights and a serious crime.
"Traffickers prey on social inequalities and take advantage of vulnerabilities. Women and children are, particularly at risk. Human trafficking is a form of violence, and the European Union is pleased to support the Fijian Government to effectively confront the challenge of trafficking and to assist and support victims," Dr Askola said.
"The Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls, funded by the European Union, the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, as well as UN Women, allows addressing some of these challenges. Supporting Fiji’s National Action Plan to prevent such violence is part of this effort. The end of the 16 Days of Activism doesn’t mean the end of all activism. The Campaign must go on!" concluded Dr Askola.
The Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar, highlighted to participants the importance of the National Action Plan and how essential it is in preventing violence before it starts.
Fiji will be the first country in the region and second in the world, after Australia, to launch and implement a national, evidence-based, whole-of-government, whole-of-society, inclusive and costed five-year National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls. We are building this plan through the voices and perspectives of Fijians via our national consultation and talanoa process. This is instrumental in us understanding what we need to do to stop violence before it starts,” Minister Akbar said.
The workshop marked the official conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.