The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Heritage, and Culture, Pita Tagicakirewa, emphasized the importance of women holding traditional roles during the opening of the Indigenous Women’s Forum at the Suva Civic Centre on Tuesday. He stated that the ministry recognizes the necessity of including women in customary positions as a progressive step forward.
Mr. Tagicakirewa remarked that there is a common misconception that only men can fulfill these roles, a notion he aims to challenge. He highlighted the recent attendance of three women at the Great Council of Chiefs meeting, indicating a shift in perspective regarding women’s participation in leadership roles. The ministry is actively visiting provinces to advocate for women’s active involvement in traditional structures such as tokatoka, mataqali, and yavusa.
He called for greater engagement and awareness to empower women and recognize their societal contributions.
In a related event, a two-day Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) training in Nadi shed light on the existing traditional protocols that limit chiefly positions to men in some provinces. GEDSI consultant Aliti Vunisea pointed out the challenges women face, particularly within patriarchal structures that often drown out their voices.
Women representatives from Ba Province shared their experiences as they discussed gender equality and the hurdles they encounter in their communities. Ms. Vunisea acknowledged prominent women leaders, however, noted that traditional protocols still hinder women’s access to leadership roles in many provinces.
Participants were educated on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, designed to empower them in their community development efforts, promoting active participation in their progress.