Fiji undertook a comprehensive consultative process to formulate its Sixth State Report to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran told the CEDAW Committee on Friday.
As Fiji fronted the committee to give an account of its work on progressing and advancing gender equality, Ms Kiran said Fiji placed great importance on meeting its obligations under the convention.
“Fiji is committed to the full and equal realisation of women and girls’ human rights.
“The National Development Plan that was widely consulted recognises that although progress has been made to achieve gender equity and empowerment, it is still lacking in many facets of Fiji’s national development.”
She said despite women making up 49.3 per cent of Fiji’s population, they remained under-represented in many economic and social aspects.
“The World Economic Forum 2024 Global Gender Gap Report ranked Fiji 128 out of 146 countries. The Government takes this seriously and the NDP ensures that achieving gender equality and empowerment is mainstreamed.”
She said the Fiji Country Gender Assessment Report published in 2023 was a comprehensive analysis on the situation of all women and girls, which represented the Government’s commitment to “Leave No One Behind”.
The review of Fiji’s Sixth State Report to CEDAW marked the conclusion of the Pacific Technical Cooperation Session of the CEDAW Committee.
