Women in the Pacific are encountering increased burdens due to the climate crisis, including heightened caregiving responsibilities and gender-based violence.
Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) executive director Nalini Singh spoke on this issue during the Pacific International Media Conference in Suva yesterday.
“In the Pacific, we face more negative effects of climate change because we don’t have access to resources and information that allow us to adapt and respond quickly enough,” she said.
“The climate crisis is also affecting many industries, however, there is little evidence about women entrepreneurs.
“The climate crisis has disproportionately impacted women and will do so in the future, particularly in vulnerable communities and it is evident in media coverage.”
Ms. Singh highlighted the gender disparities in the Pacific region, including low labor force participation and unequal distribution of unpaid care work.
She referred to the Fiji Country Gender Assessment (FCGA) report launched in 2023, which showed that women were responsible for three-quarters of the unpaid work for their families.
Ms. Singh said women in Fiji and the Pacific face barriers to leadership roles due to societal norms, gender bias, and unpaid care work.
“When we look at women in boards, we are hovering around 21 percent of board seats, 11 percent of board chairperson seats have gone to women and 30 percent of women are chief executive officers,” she said.
“We must take the opportunity to harness the diverse perspectives and talents and expertise that women bring to the table.”
She added that the media could be an ally to the women’s movement by amplifying women’s voices and challenging gender stereotypes.