THE availability of sex-disaggregated data will allow for more comprehensive decisions to be made in the development of Fiji women.
The comment was made by Women's Minister Dr Jiko Luveni who with the Fiji Bureau of Statistics and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community are embarking on an exercise to firm up the availability of sex-disaggregated data.
"Firming up on gender statistics is one of the strategies to help the government address gender-related issues, empower women and reduce poverty to a negligible level," said Dr Luveni.
"We are working with the Bureau of Statistics and SPC to strengthen gender statistics. This is an important step in advancing women's socio-economic participation." The ministry will conduct gender statistics training this year for ministries dealing with education, health, agriculture and the police.
Dr Luveni said in 2010 Cabinet had endorsed plans for all government policies and ministries to incorporate sex-disaggregated data.
These included national strategic plans, annual corporate plans, business plans and all related documents. "Suitable statistical evidence is essential to recognise the full extent of the work of the women and their contributions towards the national economy, both in the formal and non-formal sectors," Dr Luveni said.
The Beijing Platform for Action, which was adopted by the government in 1995, recognised the importance of such data to provide qualitative information on women's issues.