GOVERNMENT leaders have failed to prioritise issues affecting the people, says the Non-Governmental Organisations Coalition on Human Rights.
Coalition chair Shamima Ali yesterday called on the Coalition Government to ensure the 2025 National Budget is people-centred and meets the needs of the country.
“We strongly believe that based on the current national conversation, the Government and our leaders are drifting from prioritising real issues,” she said.
“Firstly, we urge the Government to make strong and effective financial commitments for the full implementation of Fiji’s National Action Plan for the Prevention of All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls.”
She said while there had been extensive discussion about economic stability and growth, little attention was given to what this meant for the 64 per cent of women in Fiji who experienced violence everyday or faced twice the burden of unpaid care work.
“This is why gender-responsive budgeting and planning should remain central to the Government’s strategy.
“The Government’s Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting Manual needs to lead to concrete outcomes for women and girls.
“Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad made commitments to this at the launch of the Fiji-NAP in 2023 and we hope those commitments will continue to lead to action.”
A series of public consultations were scheduled by Government from April in the lead-up to the formulation of the 2025-2026 National Budget. The 2025 National Budget announcement is set to take place on June 27.
