FIJI joined the rest of the world yesterday to celebrate the International Women's Day.
A number of celebrations were organised throughout the country to mark the significant role women play in society.
The Australian High Commission organised a workout session for women at Suva's Civic Centre yesterday as a building block for empowerment of women and girls.
Acting Deputy High Commissioner, Suzy Wilson said the International Women's Day was a day for celebration but also a call to action.
Ms Wilson said everyone should keep working to realise gender equality and allow a vision of the future where girls and women can fulfil their potential and help their communities grow and prosper.
"We at the Australian High Commission are pleased to be able to share in that vision. In fact gender equality has been incorporated in our aid program to ensure the vision we share is realised," she said.
Ms Wilson outlined that all of their development programs in Fiji placed women at the centre of planning and implementation.
"In Fiji our commitment to gender equality is illustrated through our support to the women's movement and to organisations such as Fiji Women's Rights Movement, Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, femLINKpacific and other civil society organisations," she said.
Ms Wilson said the Australian government was committed to doing more through the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative.
"As part of the roll-out of the Fiji country plan we are considering support towards research that will look at a new way of measuring the gender dimensions of poverty."
She said they would also support the improvement of marketplaces to offer better facilities and services for women market vendors.