Shadow NGO Report on Fiji’s Second, Third and Fourth Combined Periodic Report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women for submission to CEDAW’s 46th Session Date 28th July 2009 This Shadow Report to the CEDAW Committee is prepared by the Coalition of Women’s NGOs for the CEDAW Shadow Report, as well as other rights based NGOs. Some of our members have been persecuted by the military government; we therefore wish to remain anonymous for fear of further victimisation. We thank the International Women’s Rights Action Watch (IWRAW – Asia Pacific) (Kuala Lumpur) for its support. The views of the authors in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of UN Agencies. The publication is protected by copyright. The contents of the publication can be copied and used fully provided it is attributed. At the end of each article there is a list of critical recommendations and challenges encountered in the implementation of the CEDAW Convention. 1 Table of Contents ACRONYMS.....................................................................................................................................5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................ 9 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 13 Structural adjustment: ................................................................................................................. 20 Article 1: Definition of discrimination ........................................................................................ 20 Sexual Orientation ....................................................................................................................... 22 Women and Disability.................................................................................................................. 23 Recommendations:......................................................................................................................... 24 Article 2: Obligations to eliminate discrimination ....................................................................25 CEDAW General Recommendation 19 and VAW ....................................................................27 Sexual Assault .............................................................................................................................. 27 Domestic Violence ........................................................................................................................ 30 Domestic violence laws................................................................................................................. 33 The attitude of the police and courts to domestic violence............................................................33 No drop prosecution policies......................................................................................................... 33 2008 Reintroduction of No Drop Policy....................................................................................... 34 Sentencing of offenders ................................................................................................................. 34 Legislation on protection orders in family law .............................................................................35 Recommendations on VAW: ........................................................................................................ 35 Article 3: Guarantee of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms ...............................37 The Fiji Human Rights Commission (FHRC)..............................................................................41 Recommendations: .................................................................................................................... 42 Article 4: Temporary Special Measures ...................................................................................... 43 Promoting Gender Balance in the Fiji Police Force......................................................................44 Recommendations:......................................................................................................................... 46 Article 5: Sex roles and stereotyping ........................................................................................... 46 Recommendations:......................................................................................................................... 47 Article 6: Trafficking and Exploitation of Women ....................................................................48 Recommendations:......................................................................................................................... 49 Article 7: Political Life ................................................................................................................... 50 Introduction..................................................................................................................................50 Electoral history 1970 to date ....................................................................................................... 52 Fiji’s National commitments and regional status ........................................................................53 The Indigenous Fijian chiefly system and equal political access ..................................................53 Judicial officers.............................................................................................................................. 57 Statutory Boards........................................................................................................................... 58 Local Government......................................................................................................................... 58 Provincial Council........................................................................................................................ 59 Recommendations:......................................................................................................................... 59 2 Article 8: International Representation ....................................................................................... 60 Diplomatic Service........................................................................................................................ 60 Military Services .......................................................................................................................... 60 Recommendations:......................................................................................................................... 63 Article 9: Nationality ..................................................................................................................... 63 Recommendations:......................................................................................................................... 64 Article 10: Education...................................................................................................................... 64 Women in decision making in education...................................................................................... 68 Corporal Punishment ................................................................................................................... 68 Women with disabilities................................................................................................................ 69 Recommendations:......................................................................................................................... 69 Article 11: Employment................................................................................................................. 70 Trade Policy..................................................................................................................................70 Economic Autonomy and Agency ................................................................................................ 72 The ERP, Access to Justice and the Illegal Regime.......................................................................72 Maternity Leave Provisions.......................................................................................................... 74 Incomes .........................................................................................................................................74 Female Workers in Poverty; or at Risk of Poverty........................................................................75 A tax regime that discriminates against women and the poor .....................................................75 Exclusive Trade Policy Processes ................................................................................................. 76 Women Migrant Workers............................................................................................................. 77 The significance of unpaid household work .................................................................................. 78 Sexual harassment of women in the workplace is significant.......................................................78 Mandatory Retirement ................................................................................................................. 80 Recommendations: .................................................................................................................