Breaking the silence

International Women’s Day is a call to conscience, a reminder that progress is not achieved by chance but by choice. The global theme “Give to Gain” resonates deeply with Fiji’s own struggles and hopes.

It challenges us to recognise that true empowerment comes not from hoarding power, but from sharing it; not from silence, but from speaking out; not from ignoring social ills, but from confronting them together.

For too long, silence has been mistaken for peace. Women across Fiji know the cost of silence — whether in homes where domestic violence is hidden, in communities where drug abuse is whispered but never addressed, or in workplaces where inequality is tolerated.

Silence protects no one; it only perpetuates harm. To “give to gain” means to give voice to the voiceless, to speak truth even when uncomfortable, and to gain strength through collective courage.

This requires cultural shifts, community support, and personal bravery. But when women speak, societies change. When survivors of abuse share their stories, they inspire others to seek help.

When mothers confront the reality of drug use in their families, they open the door to healing. When leaders acknowledge systemic inequality, they create space for reform. Giving voice is the first step toward gaining justice.

In Fiji, we are facing drug crisis, pandemic and war.

Methamphetamine and marijuana abuse have infiltrated communities, threatening the health, safety, and future of young people.

Women bear a disproportionate burden of this crisis. They are mothers watching children fall into addiction, sisters grieving brothers lost to overdoses, and daughters navigating unsafe environments shaped by drug-related crime.

The temptation is to remain silent—to pretend the problem is smaller than it is and to hope it will fade. But silence is complicity.

To “give to gain” in this context means giving attention, resources, and compassion to those trapped in addiction.

It means gaining healthier communities, safer streets, and brighter futures.

Women must be central to this fight. Their voices can reshape prevention campaigns, their leadership can strengthen rehabilitation programs, and their resilience can inspire national resolve.

Empowering women to confront drug issues is not optional; it is essential.

When women unite, they amplify each other’s voices. When communities rally around those affected by drugs, they replace shame with support.

When churches, schools, and civic groups speak openly about these challenges, they dismantle stigma and build pathways to recovery.

The theme “Give to Gain” finds profound resonance in scripture. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches: “Give, and it will be given to you.

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).

This verse reminds us that generosity is not loss but multiplication.

When we give courage, we gain freedom. When we give compassion, we gain healing. When we give truth, we gain justice.

Biblical wisdom affirms that silence in the face of injustice is not neutrality but neglect.

The prophets spoke against oppression, Jesus confronted hypocrisy, and the early church broke cultural barriers to uplift women.

To honour International Women’s Day is to continue this tradition of holy disruption—speaking truth, giving voice, and gaining righteousness.

In giving, we gain. We gain healthier communities, safer families, and a more just society. We gain hope.

Finally, “Give to Gain” is not a slogan to be printed and forgotten.

It is a principle to be lived. On International Women’s Day 2026, Fiji has the opportunity to embody this principle by confronting silence, addressing drug issues, and empowering women.

The path is not easy, but it is necessary. Silence must end. Solidarity must begin. Generosity must guide us.

As Luke 6:38 reminds us, giving multiplies blessings. When Fiji gives women voice, respect, and opportunity, it gains a stronger nation.

When communities give compassion to those struggling with drugs, they gain healing. When individuals give courage to speak truth, they gain freedom.

International Women’s Day is not just about women—it is about humanity.

To “give to gain” is to recognise that our collective future depends on our willingness to share, to speak, and to act. “Are we willing to give, so that together we may gain?”