National Council of Women Fiji

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Organisation Type
Contact Details
Objectives
Focus Areas
Expertise
Activities and Projects
Countries and Scope of the activities

Organisation Type:
 

 Non-Governmental Organization

Contact details:

Objectives:

Mission Statement

Our strength is our multi-ethnic diversity which reflects solidarity of women in Fiji. Together we promote the development of women economically, socially, politically and spiritually.

Aims of the Council

·         To promote the interests of women in particular that of women with disabilities, the girl child and the marginalised.

·         To advocate on behalf of women and children to ensure development efforts produce sustainable and justly distributed improvements to the quality of life for all Fiji citizens.

Objectives

·         To promote solidarity and unity amongst women for the advancement of  women's status in Fiji.

·         To conduct research on the needs of women and the girl-child

·         To monitor, analyse and take appropriate action on government policies and programs that impact on women and the girl-child.

·         To mobilise and organise resources for action

·         To collect and distribute information

·         To facilitate active networking between women's organisations in Fiji.

·         To work in cooperation with other organisations having similar aims as the Council

·         To maintain links with the International Council of Women and the national women's umbrella bodies in other countries.

·         To promote the recognition and support of the Councils' aims and objectives by the government agencies, private sector organisations, regional and international bodies and the public at large.

Focus areas:

·         Mechanisms for the Advancement of Women

·         Education & Training                                               

·         Health                                                                    

·         Environment                                                           

·         Human Rights                                                         

·         Poverty Alleviation & Economic Empowerment of Women                   

·         Shared Decision-Making                              

·         Developed focus on Women, Peace & Security – from 2000

Expertise:

• Advocacy
• Education & Training
•  Information and Research
• Community Relations
•  Administration

Activities and Projects:

WPS activities including Women’s Action for Democracy & Peace Initiative (WAD’aP)

Women, Peace & Security – NCWFiji together with other members of civil society condemned the 2000 coup and had staged daily peace vigils in a peaceful demonstration of the unified call for the return to democracy and the rule of law, as well as bringing together the women of Fiji – united through interfaith reflection and meditation for peace and security.

Recalling our commitment as a multi ethnic women's NGO that has been committed to the social, political, economic and spiritual development of women, in a collective response to the actions of May 19, 2000 the NCWF initiated a number of 'peaceful protest actions' including :

-          Daily Peace Vigil at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral to provide time for members of the community to come together daily to reflect on the current situation, as a community of Fiji Islanders, and that through this peaceful Ecumenical gathering would also become a forum for reconciliation and reconstruction dialogue and action

-          Women in Black Campaign, in response to the violence and looting of Friday May 19

-          Candlelight Campaign, where homes were invited to light a single candle at their doorstep every night as a symbol of hope for the safe and immediate release of the hostages

-          Media Statements and Action Alerts locally and internationally to denounce the illegal overthrow of the democratically elected People's Coalition government

-          Launching the “Blue Ribbon for Peace”

These were coordinated through the NCWF affiliate networks, and also in collaboration with civil society partners.

Emanating from the peace vigils, NCWFiji established the Women’s Action for Democracy and Peace (WAD’aP) initiative:

-          To continue to address the long term impact and consequences of the actions of May 19

-          To maintain a gender perspective in the future developments of the period of reconciliation and reconstruction.

(1) To identify actions that will promote fundamental freedom and human rights of every citizen of Fiji;

(2) To promote multiculturalism throughout the community, and especially through the existing networks of affiliates and other civil societies;

(3) To inform the international community of

(a)     actions and initiatives undertaken by the Council and other affiliates in response to the current crisis

(b)     to seek their support of identified actions

(4) To continue to provide the authorities and relevant bodies of the official position of the Council and other affiliates in response to the current crisis

(5) To undertake post conflict rehabilitation programmes throughout Fiji through the existing networks of affiliates and other civil societies;

(6) To inform and publicize through the media the initiatives taken by affiliates and civil societies in promoting multiculturalism, reconciliation and healing;

A major project of WAD’aP was the Children’s Creative Expressions project – coordinated in the Viti Levu area of Suva / Nausori, more than twenty primary schools participated in the project and contributed their creative expressions towards peace and multiculturalism.

These creative expressions were then put on display during the week of International Women’s Day from March 6 – 11^th in 2001.

However, WAD’aP activities ceased from 2002 as other programmes took priority and due to the lack of core funding to sustain the activities.

Countries and Scope of the activities:

Peace vigils were staged at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, Suva.

NCWFiji secretariat situated in Suva – hence activities tended to be centralised.

However, affiliates around Fiji were encouraged to support WAD’aP and wear the Blue Ribbon.

Media Alerts / Statements published in daily newspapers covering the country.