A study conducted by the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) in 2017 has identified that physical, emotional, psychological, and socio-economic support needed in old age has declined, leaving older women vulnerable.
The FWRM executive director Nalini Singh highlighted this at the World Population Day seminar held at the University of the South Pacific last week.
She said women were experiencing poverty and lacking financial security and autonomy after the retirement age.
“More research on this was crucial,” Ms Singh said.
“The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) provides a policy framework that looks at the active participation of older persons in a society.”
She said Fiji ratified MIPAA in 2002, but our compliance and implementation had not been good.
“I firmly disagree with addressing issues in silos so I bring into this conversation the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD PoA) 1994, where world leaders agreed to put individual rights and dignity at the heart of sustainable development.
“Fiji is a signatory. This global commitment came at a time when there was so much anxiety about a rapidly growing global population, and world leaders needed some sort of program of action to set the standard for people-centred development.
“Thirty years on since its adoption, its implementation globally, in the Pacific and in Fiji has been poor.”
Ms Singh said now with the world facing new demographic trends, emerging crises and threats, the 30-year review of the ICPD commitment was timely, and so was this conversation.
“Although, I will say that we could have had this conversation sooner and more regularly.
“The World Population Report 2024 shows that in 69 countries, one-quarter of women are unable to make their own healthcare decisions, are unable to negotiate sex with their husbands or partners and have no choice in using contraception.
“In Fiji, FWRM has researched a prevalence of child marriages happening – which hinders girls’ education and potential. This is due to much earlier sexual debut of children resulting in unintended adolescent pregnancies.
“Reporting in-country on SRHR indicators is poor and Fiji is no exception.” || Older women vulnerable || Older women vulnerable
