MORE women must step forward and take leadership roles in Fiji’s decision-making spaces.
This was the message from Social Protection Minister Sashi Kiran during an International Women’s Day gathering in Labasa.
Ms Kiran said while women were already leaders within their communities, their voices were still missing in many formal decision-making spaces.
“One of the biggest gaps across the country is the lack of women in leadership. I know each one of you in this room is already a leader. You lead your community groups, and you do a lot of work,” she said.
However, she said more women were needed in town councils, rural advisory councils and the government.
She encouraged women to stand in the upcoming local government elections so their voices could be heard.
“We need more women in town councils and local government to make sure women’s voices go far.”
She said women played a major role in communities across Fiji, particularly in rural areas where they worked in agriculture, fisheries and forestry while also managing households.
“Our women wake up before everyone else. They plant, they harvest, and they keep families together, but how many spaces do we have where women are truly listened to?”
