In 2001, the Labasa Women’s Forum reported a sharp rise in poverty among women in the Northern Division, saying many in rural communities were unable to voice their concerns on the issue.
An article published by The Fiji Times on March 9 that year reported the forum’s co-ordinator, Manju Ram, saying assessments carried out over nine months showed poverty had become a major issue for women.
She said rural women had limited opportunities to raise their difficulties and called on the Ministry for Wand Culture to expand its outreach programs.
“Our request is for the ministry to reach out to rural areas and set up programs that could assist women in some way,” Ms Ram said.
The forum, a non-government organisation, provided scholarships for needy families on Vanua Levu, but Ms Ram said its resources could only assist to a certain extent.
As part of International Women’s Day celebrations that year, the forum hosted about 150 women from Wainikoro, Daku, and Seaqaqa at the Labasa Civic Centre. She said while some were reluctant to attend, they received a strong response from other communities.
Three speakers from the Ministry of Health addressed the gathering on health concerns affecting women in the North.
In Lautoka, 50 women aged between 19 and 60 took part in a one-day workshop on rape and sexual abuse organised by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. The event, held at the Cathay Hotel, also marked International Women’s Day.
The centre’s counselling supervisor, Salote Malo, said the workshop aimed to raise awareness about the rising number of sexual offences. Representatives from the Police Sexual Offences Unit and the Social Welfare Department contributed to the sessions.
Participants included members of women’s groups such as the Prison Wives Club. Ms Malo said the workshop was intended to help women share knowledge on handling cases of rape and sexual abuse within their communities.
