NZ provides funding to support equality and empowerment of Fijian women and girls

The Fiji Gender Action Programme to advance women’s empowerment and social protection has received a boost as New Zealand is providing a $12.6 million contribution.

The funding will go to the Ministry for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation as well as Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, Women’s Fund Fiji, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and UN Women.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the recent Fiji Gender Assessment showed big gaps in pay between men and women amongst a range of other disparities.

Ardern says this funding will go towards programmes that help address the issues and inequalities that the report highlighted.

She adds the ultimate goal of the programme is to support Fijian women and girls, in all their diversity and to increase the voice of women in leadership and decision-making.

Ardern also says they want to see a reduction in the prevalence of violence against women and children and greater societal awareness of women’s rights and gender equality.