“Women hold up half the sky, let’s work our best to give women half the seats at the table.”
These were the sentiments shared by Minister for Women Lynda Tabuya on the appointment of Salote Panapasa as the acting Commissioner of Fiji Corrections Service and Ana Salaivalu Mataiciwa as the acting Supervisor of Elections.
In a statement, Ms Tabuya said Ms Panapasa and Ms Mataiciwa had proven themselves as capable women leaders who possessed the required skill and knowledge to lead two important organisations, which were also male-dominated workplaces.
“As the Minister for Women, we will accord them necessary support,” she said.
“Where women are present and qualify for the job, give it to the woman. It is about equal opportunity employment and making every effort to level the playing field for women and men, and this is our commitment as the coalition government and with a leader like our prime minister who is a strong advocate for gender equality. Hand in hand, together as equal partners in national leadership we can achieve anything.”
The Fiji Government is committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders, embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind.
“We will continue to work closely with Government agencies and stakeholders in achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals. Only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get to justice and inclusion, economies that work for all, and sustaining our shared environment now and for future generations.
“Currently, the agenda to increase women’s participation in political leadership is receiving universal support through the SDGs 5.5 which seeks to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership, and at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.”
Ms Tabuya commended all women holding leadership positions throughout Government, civil society, the private sector, communities and the nation.
