Calls for enhanced global cooperation have emerged to aid middle-income nations like Fiji in shielding their vulnerable populations from escalating challenges posed by climate change, socioeconomic disparities, and economic pressures. Esata Nadakuitavuki, the Permanent Secretary for Women, Children and Social Protection, emphasized the urgency during the High-Level Conference of Middle-Income Countries, highlighting the necessity for immediate and inclusive measures to assist children, people with disabilities, survivors of domestic violence, and the elderly.
Fiji currently grapples with significant issues, such as rising sea levels, rural poverty, a deepening digital divide, and increasing needs for services catered to people with disabilities and the elderly. Nadakuitavuki stated Fiji is undergoing significant reforms, including raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years, aiming to bolster domestic violence prevention strategies alongside expanding climate-resilient infrastructure and social protection systems.
There is a critical need for targeted international support that encompasses concessional financing, climate adaptation resources, and technical collaborations to enable middle-income countries to achieve their global development targets. This call for action resonates with ongoing discussions previously addressed by Fiji’s Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, who discussed issues of gender inequality and the health crisis linked to HIV during her addresses at various international forums.
These efforts show a collective recognition of the interlinked nature of many societal issues, underscoring the importance of partnership and cooperative action in tackling the pressing challenges faced by Fiji and similar nations. The broad acknowledgment of these issues not only aims at immediate intervention but also cultivates hope for a future where vulnerable communities receive the essential support and protection they need.
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