At the Asia Pacific Ministerial Meeting on Beijing +30 in Thailand, Fiji’s Minister for Women, Lynda Tabuya, highlighted that women continue to undertake around 80 percent of unpaid care work in their homes and communities. She emphasized the importance of implementing initiatives to empower women in the caregiving space, as a means to alter this imbalance.
Minister Tabuya referenced Tonga’s Integrated Aged Care Project, which is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), as a potential model for Fiji. This project aims to support women caregivers by providing them with caregiver allowances, thereby recognizing their vital contribution and offering them a form of employment for their caregiving roles.
During her visit to Bogota, Colombia, Ms. Tabuya was inspired by the concept of “care blocks.” These are community centers that offer a variety of empowerment programs for women not in formal employment. The services available at the care blocks include vocational training, healthcare, daycare for children, mental health counseling, and aged care services for elderly family members.
Minister Tabuya expressed that the creation of care blocks could greatly benefit women by providing a central location for accessing diverse support services. She suggested that Fiji could collaborate with local governments to establish such care blocks without incurring additional costs to the national budget. By fostering inter-ministerial cooperation, the country could facilitate education, health, and childcare services all in one place.
This initiative presents a hopeful path forward for not just women’s empowerment in Fiji, but also for fostering a more equitable division of caregiving responsibilities. By supporting caregivers and recognizing their contributions, there’s potential for transformative change within families and communities across Fiji.
In summary, the proposal for establishing care blocks in Fiji signifies a progressive approach to supporting women in their caregiving roles, paving the way for their empowerment and enhancing community wellbeing.
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