IWPG regional director Grace Jang urged Fiji to rally more women into peace-building efforts as she officiated at the IWPG Peace Conference Program last weekend. Speaking on the theme “Peace begins within,” Jang said she was inspired by Fiji’s strong appetite for peace after first engaging with Fiji through Women’s Peace Education in 2023.
“Peace is essential to all of humanity. It is something both heaven and earth long for. To achieve this noble value of peace, the role of women is crucial, and the power of education is indispensable,” Jang told attendees, emphasizing how Women’s Peace Education adds deeper meaning to personal lives and helps shape the future of communities. “Peace is not something far away. When peace begins within me, it extends to our homes, our communities, our nations — and ultimately, the world. After all, peace starts within me. We hope more women can join our group and work together for peace in Fiji.”
The call comes as Fiji continues to position itself at the forefront of regional gender-equality and women’s empowerment efforts. Across the Pacific, Fiji has been active in international forums such as the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and reaffirming commitments to gender equality, inclusive education, and women’s leadership. Earlier discussions in the Asia-Pacific region highlighted ongoing gaps and the need for sustained financing and robust data to inform policy and program design.
In Fiji’s broader movement, the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) has long led regional initiatives to combat violence against women and girls. Since 1995, FWCC’s regional training program has trained about 900 participants—both men and women—on gender-based violence, rights, and development. The current training, conducted at the Yatu Lau Hotel & Conference Centre in Suva, continues to emphasize data collection, advocacy, and practical solutions to reduce violence, with Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya underscoring the importance of educational platforms and the National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (2021–2026).
Aligning with these efforts, Fiji has launched strategic assessments and initiatives to increase women’s participation in peace and security roles. A Gender Barrier Assessment—the first of its kind in the Pacific—has begun to map obstacles to women’s entry into UN peacekeeping missions. With only a fraction of uniformed personnel in peacekeeping roles being women, the study aims to inform policies that support greater female participation, with findings expected in early 2026 to guide the Women, Peace, and Security Plan for 2025–2029.
These interconnected efforts underscore a shared optimism: empowering women through education, training, and inclusive policy leads to stronger, more resilient communities and more effective peacebuilding. Fiji’s leadership in these areas reflects a broader regional belief that peace and security are most durable when women are active partners.
Commentators note that the work remains challenging—financing gaps, gaps in educational opportunities after primary school, and persistent patriarchal norms—but they also stress resilience and collaboration across civil society, government, and international partners. The weaving of these strands—education, advocacy, data-driven policy, and inclusive peacekeeping initiatives—offers a hopeful path forward for Fiji and the wider Pacific region.
Summary: Grace Jang’s call to mobilize more women for peace-building in Fiji complements ongoing national and regional efforts to advance gender equality, combat violence, and strengthen women’s leadership at home and on the world stage. Through education, targeted training programs like FWCC’s, and groundbreaking assessments to boost women’s participation in peacekeeping, Fiji is strengthening its framework for a more peaceful and inclusive society.
The piece is a positive, forward-looking update on women’s peace-building initiatives.
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