“WE know that empowering women enables them to bring positive changes to their own lives. This contributes to wider positive change for their families, villages, communities and the nation.”
This was message by First Lady Emily Lalabalavu while closing the two-day Women Invigorating the Nation (WIN) Convention 2025 on Saturday night at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.
The First Lady stated that such a convention unlocks initiatives that alleviate poverty, achieve inclusive economic growth and meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“Let us also congratulate the committee for making this WIN Convention happen so women can come together in dialogue to share experiences, to learn from one another, to network and to inspire one another,” Ms Lalabalavu said.
She also commended the outcomes from the convention, which were:
– the formulation of strategies to achieve equal representation and opportunities in the workplace,
prioritising access to healthcare, reproductive rights, and mental health support for women and girls,
understanding of the impact of stigma and identifying strategies to challenge internalised and external biases,
understanding of the current drug epidemic in Fiji, recognising the specific risks and impacts on women, and being equipped with strategies to identify warning signs and advocate for effective prevention and intervention measures within their communities,
engaging and supporting young women and girls as catalysts for change,
recognise and challenge systemic barriers within the discipline forces, fostering a culture of inclusivity and enabling women to excel in leadership roles, and,
addressing violence against women and children, discrimination, and upholding human rights and understanding how family businesses can integrate environmental sustainability and social responsibility into their core values, driving both profit and positive impact.
The two-day convention also featured the first Green Star Awards, a follow-through from the launch of the Women Entrepreneur’s Business Council (WEBC) Green Policy in 2023.
WEBC, one of the nine councils under the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF), is the organiser of the annual WIN conventions.
NOTE: This article was first published in the print edition of the Fiji Times dated MARCH 31, 2025.
