The International Women’s Day 2026 (IWD 2026), theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For women and girls”, calls for action to dismantle all barriers to equal justice: discriminatory laws, weak legal protections, and harmful practices and social norms that erode the rights of women and girls.(UNWOMEN Asia and the Pacific)
Nowadays, no nation has closed the legal gaps between men and women.
Right now, women have only 64 per cent of the legal rights that men hold worldwide. In fundamental areas of life, including work, money, safety, family, property, mobility
What does this mean for us in Fiji?
The question we should be asking is what have we done in Fiji in the last thirty years since ratifying the Convention to End Discrimination Against Women in 1995, to show that we have truly supported women.
Do women and girls have more legal access and are they able to take action to ensure that their life, work, money, safety ,family life, property and mobility is safeguarded.
One of the biggest measures of women’s unequal treatment and the need for more justice is the violence. Fiji has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world, with over 60 per cent–66 per cent of women experiencing physical or sexual violence by a partner in their lifetime.
Two out of every three women experiencing physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. It is a pervasive national issue where 26 per cent – of women report being beaten while pregnant, and 74 per cent of victims do not report violence to police.
How are we ensuring that women and girls access justice?
A response to the International Women’s day theme is the concept of Give to Gain
“Give To Gain,” focuses on a mindset of generosity, collaboration, and investment in women to drive progress. This theme highlights that supporting women—through funding, visibility, and opportunity creates reciprocal benefits for societies. It emphasises “intentional multiplication” and fostering gender equality.
The campaign focuses on four things that are listed below;
Action-Oriented: where one acts and gives respect, donates, or is visible in supporting knowledge, and funding for women.
Global Campaign: This is celebrated on International Women’s Day on March 8.
The campaign encourages, businesses, governments, and individuals to take action-do something to support women or go against traditional acts that suppress women such as violence;
Supporting Women: The initiative includes promoting women’s health, rights, and economic empowerment, with a focus on creating a fairer, more sustainable world.
Regional Focus: In some areas, such as the Asia-Pacific, the focus is on dismantling structural barriers to equal justice. These are cultural or traditional practices such as the election of man as turaga ni koro or as representatives to the Great Council of Chies. These are traditional but can be a start in the communication to having more women access leadership and accessing justice as they hold these positions. So does it mean that we only Give to Gain on March 8th?
If we were to truly have access to Justice then we should go back to the basics. Understand the onvention that supports women CEDAW. See how well are women are safeguarded in Fiji;
Do we have services in banks to help women?
Do we have maternity health services supportive of women?;
Do we have work conditions and leave of women such as maternity leave, menstrual leave in place?;
Do we take into account that when loans and agreements are written that special circumstances for women are taken?;
Are scholarships to given able address gender inequality?;
Are there enough women in leadership positions eg women CEO’s, women permanent secretaries, women directors and women board members?;
Are there enough foreign diplomats and women ambassadors?;
Are there enough women commissioned officers in the disciplinary forces; and
Are there any enough women magistrates and judges?
If we can truly assess our commitments and ensure that women and girls are having legal access and that lack of support and services in fundamental areas of life are being addressed then we are half way to celebrating women.
We do not just Give to Gain for a period or celebrate on International Women’s Day make grand gestures and forget. We must make a conscious effort to dismantle all barriers to equal justice: discriminatory laws, weak legal protections, and harmful practices and social norms that erode the rights of women and girls.
. Two out of every three women experiencing physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Picture: SUPPLIED
Do women and girls have more legal access and are they able to take action to ensure that their life, work, money, safety ,family life, property and mobility is safeguarded. Picture: SUPPLIED
Nowadays, no nation has closed the legal gaps between men and women. Picture: SUPPLIED
