The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) recently released an 8 page list of questions for Fiji, following the submission of a Parallel Report drafted by ICAAD on behalf of a coalition of local NGOs. While the Parallel Report mentioned efforts made in Fiji to improve gender parity, it highlighted major gaps in existing legislation and practices that have significantly hindered progress for women’s rights.
Commenting on the report, Nalini Singh, Executive Director for Fiji Women’s Rights Movement said, “the reforms are far outweighed by the existing and entrenched discrimination against women. The report cites the high prevalence of gender-based violence in society as evidence of the State’s lack of compliance to CEDAW.”
The Parallel Report responded directly to the Fiji government’s report to the Committee, and focused on CEDAW Articles:
- 1 and 2, Discrimination and its Elimination
- 3 Measures to Guarantee Comprehensive Advances by Women
- 5 Sex Roles & Stereotypes
- 6 Exploitation of Women
- 11 Employment
- 12 Health
- 14 Rural Women, and
- 16 Marriage and Family Life
In relation to gender-based violence, the CEDAW Committee highlighted problems with access to justice for women and girls, highlighting customary reconciliation and gender-bias in the judiciary as areas of particular concern, and asked for information from the State as to what measures it is taking to address the concerns. It also requested information on training measures for health, law enforcement, and the judiciary, and “any measures taken to increase the number of female front-line officers.”
The Parallel Report was drafted by ICAAD in consultation with local organizations, and submitted to the CEDAW with the support of Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM), Citizen’s Constitutional Forum (CCF), Diverse Voices and Action for Equality (DIVA) Fiji, femLINKpacific, Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation, National Union for Commercial Factory Workers, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC), Haus of Khameleon, Pacific Sexual and Reproductive Health Centre, Pacific Disability Forum, and Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei.