FIJI WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT “HELPING TO BALANCE THE SCALES” December 2015 International Women Human Rights Defenders Day The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement staged a By Genevieve Sukhdeo structures, gender norms and roles that support LIVE Talk show on Sunday, 29th November 2015 to and justify it. Gender-based violence harms women, commemorate ‘International Women Human Rights families, communities and societies. It is a human Defenders Day.’ women in all their diversities to engage with the rights violation and one of the most pervasive forms of Hosted by FWRM’s Executive Director Tara WHRDs, particularly young women present on the gender-based inequality. The elimination of violence Chetty, the talkshow featured Noelene Nabulivou of night.” against women involves challenging the unequal Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality, Naomi The talk show was part of the opening night for division of social, political, and economic power Navoce of Pacific Disability Forum (PDF), feminist the Nothing Less Than Equal Film Festival, which was among women and men, and the ways in which this activist and former FWRM Executive Director Virisila coordinated by the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, inequality is perpetuated through institutions at all Buadromo and trans* activist Sulique Waqa of Haus UN Women, UNICEF and the UN Office of the High levels of society,” said Engell-Hansen. of Khameleon. Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Opening The opening night also showcased the IWDA Said Tara Chetty, “We were pleased to host night commemorations were co-funded by the short documentary Dance Selina featuring Fiji’s very this talk show on the opening night of Nothing European Union (EU), the British High Commission, own Mei Milli, a graduate of FWRM’s Emerging Less Than Equal, Fiji’s first Film Festival to raise the Embassy of France and the International Women’s Leaders Forum, along with a brief selection of awareness on the 16 Days of Activism Against Development Agency (IWDA). FWRM’s GIRLS Digital Stories, followed by the Gender-Based Violence. The talk show was a tribute Chargé d’affaires, Johnny Engell-Hansen, says Feature Film I AM A GIRL. to local women’s human rights defenders (WHRDs) the EU is adamant that a collective effort is needed to who have contributed tremendously to the progress address the issue of Gender-Based violence. of women’s rights at the national and international “Gender-based violence is rooted in levels.” and reinforces gender inequalities and it “The talk show concept sought to encourage cannot be understood outside the social 1 From the Director’s desk Transitions Greetings from FWRM! By Genevieve Sukhdeo is education. And I’m afraid of no one.” Women activists such as The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement continues Wei Tingting, Wang Man, Li to grow and change, as staff move through career Tingting and Zheng Churan who pathways in the organisation. as recently as March 6th this Former Fiji Young Women’s Forum Co-ordinator year, were detained in unknown and Programme Assistant, Mamta Sylviya Chand locations in China after planning replaces Veena Singh as the new Young Women’s to stage events against sexual Officer, while Veena moves into the role of Gender harassment in order to mark & Transitional Justice Team Leader. International Women’s Day. This transition sees two graduates of FWRM’s Facing the risk of torture and Emerging Leaders Forum occupy key positions other forms of abuse, they were within the organisation, brining their experience denied access to a lawyer and and involvement with the Movement over the had their human rights violated a years. few days shy of IWD 2015. We also remember those Says Veena on her recent appointment: who have gone before us, the “Being in this role is both ‘Sheroes’ who relentlessly challenging and exciting. I feel that I paved the way for all feminists, young and old to carry on am in a very good place career wise the great legacy that is the right now, however I do know I have global women’s movement. In to maintain a healthy balance of commemorating women human rights defenders day on 29 work and personal time. Reminding November, FWRM would like to ourselves as feminists that self-care is pay tribute to our friend Josefa relevant to the work we do, is crucial “Gigi” Francisco, a leader of Starting on 25th November, FWRM has in sustaining the women’s movement. stood strongly in solidarity with feminists the South feminist activist movement, who around the world for the 16 Days of Activism passed away in July. She was an instrumental This role will not only allow me to utilise Against Gender-Based Violence. As we reflect figure at Development Alternatives for my experience and knowledge on Women in the New Era (DAWN), as well as a on this year’s theme “From Peace in the Home Women, Peace and Security but also to Peace in the World: Make Education Safe friend, mentor and ally to so many. for All!” we reflect on global progress more We will miss that fierce passion, and merge my community development than twenty years on from Beijing World the warmth she had for her sisters in the background in my day-to-day work.” movement. She always made me feel Conference of Women and its Platform for Mamta has worked with FWRM since 2004 as Action. welcome, and a part of something that was possible. We’ve been thinking of those at a volunteer, intern and research assistant and was While there has been some progress made a full-time member of staff in 2013. made, today we live in a fiercer world for DAWN since we heard, and all her comrades who have fought together and laughed She is passionate about diverse young most women. Today it is much more difficult women’s issues including, but not limited to to advocate for bodily autonomy and the full together over so many years. We salute you Gigi. We miss you, and we will carry on your lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and range of our sexual and reproductive health queer (LGBTIQ) issues, transitional justice and and rights (SRHR). The forward looking work. Moce mada. As the year draws to a close, it’s hard not democracy, and sexual and reproductive health agenda set 20 years ago in Beijing seems and rights (SRHR). almost radical in today’s context where there to feel disheartened by all that is happening is such strong pushback against women’s in the world around us: the people we have lost; the global refugee crisis affecting so “FWRM, especially the second lot of basic human rights. Not only must we ELFs and the Emerging Leaders Forum contend with the constant threats of violence, many women and girls; the destruction of militarism, impacts of climate change, and mangrove forests and climate change that Alumni have molded my feminist values low rates of women in leadership (amongst threaten our island homes; and the seemingly and enhanced my gender perspective as other issues) but we also continue to have our endless war on women’s bodies. But as we a young feminist activist and women’s celebrate International Human Rights Day bodies used as ‘political playgrounds.’ human rights defender. During this 16 Days, as feminist activists and the upcoming holidays with our feminist and women’s human rights defenders, allies, our families and friends, we remember “My colleagues, predecessors, we remember all women and girls who all that we have accomplished together, all feminist friends, and my parents steadfastly refused to sacrifice their education that we hold dear, and our belief that another, continuously motivate me to strive for and right to dignity, in spite of enormous odds better world is possible. Wishing you a hopeful new year! the highest standards both personally and severe persecution. Young women like and professionally, and I am inspired to Malala Yousafzai who said, “I don’t mind if I have to sit on the floor at school. All I want Tara Chetty. engage, empower and inform at greater levels than ever before.” 2 HUMAN RIGHTS Strengthening National Human Rights Institutions in the Pacific NATIONAL Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) By Alanieta Velulu attention to the various perspectives and play a vital role in promoting and monitoring significance of NHRIs, it also addressed the the effective implementation of human rights following key areas: A number of recommendations made to Fiji standards in their respective countries. To 1. The importance of national human rights emphasized the importance of re-establishing effectively fulfil their human rights mandate, there institutions that are compliant with the the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination are internationally recognized principles that an Paris Principles Commission (FHRADC), which was supported by NHRI must comply with, and these are commonly 2. The Legal framework that establishes and the Fiji Government. referred to as the Paris Principles. guides the roles and responsibilities of an The Coalition in partnership with OHCHR, NHRIs contribute to improving human rights NHRI organised and hosted the first public panel protection mechanisms by inter alia: Providing 3. International and regional lessons discussion on “Strengthening National Human advice and support to Parliaments, strong and learnt regarding the effectiveness and Rights Institutions in the Pacific.” The panel dynamic civil society organizations, an alert and sustainability of NHRIs discussion was held on May 20th , 2015, responsive media, a school system with human The panel was the first event of it’s kind to bringing together approximately 130 people at rights education programmes at all levels, and focus on national human rights institutions and the Japan ICT Lecture Theatre at the University generally accredited NHRIs which have an “A” enabled the audience to question the panellists of the South Pacific.