The government has acknowledged significant gaps in national development, despite progress in gender equity and empowerment, as outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP) report. The report highlights the notable under-representation of women, who make up 49.3 percent of the population, in various economic and social sectors.
According to the report, the World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Report ranked Fiji 107 out of 146 countries. The government is taking this issue seriously, ensuring that gender balance and empowerment are integral to the NDP.
The government is committed to incorporating gender considerations into its development processes, sector policies, and budget planning to promote sustainable development. The report emphasizes the need for institutionalizing gender mainstreaming at all levels of governance to guarantee equal opportunities and address systemic inequalities, including gender-based violence.
Vani Catanasiga, executive director of the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS), supports these initiatives and stresses the necessity for men to play an active role in facilitating this transition. In a recent interview, Ms. Catanasiga advocated for more job opportunities focused on women to alleviate economic challenges and called for a reassessment of harmful cultural norms.
“Men must also help facilitate that transition,” Ms. Catanasiga stated. She added, “We need to address some of our cultural norms. There are cultural practices that are detrimental to us as a people. We need to think more creatively about how to integrate more women into the workforce to grow our economy. It makes economic sense to provide women with these opportunities.”