Government will continue to support the Ba Women’s Forum Training Center because it is instrumental in boosting capacity building for women, says Minister for Women Mereseini Vuniwaqa.
While speaking in Ba on Friday, she assured the centre of continued support in the face of budget challenges caused by COVID-19.
“Inclusive and sustainable development around the world, leaving no one behind is the overarching vision of the UN’s 2030 Agenda and also a promise of the Fijian Government,” she said.
“Gender equality and women’s economic empowerment are central to the realisation of this vision, yet gender gaps remain large, pervasive and persistent.
“The Fijian Government has shown its commitment to women’s development by continuing to support such initiatives by our civil society partners, and this political will is reflected best by the fact that, at a time when budgets had to be re-prioritised, funding for such programs remained a priority for the Government.
“My ministry has had the pleasure of providing funding towards the Ba Women’s Forum Training Center for which a budget has been allocated to the ministry in the current fiscal year.”
She said NGOs such as the Ba Women’s Forum provided support to the vulnerable in society, especially women and marginalised people.
“While the Fijian Government has supported various organisations through financial contributions, it is the unique mandates of the civil society organisations to bring about positive change in our society that really makes them worthy of great appreciation.
“The impact of the work of civil society is life changing in most cases, especially when women are able to stand economically independent and re-invest their earnings in their families and communities.”
