Awareness about the plight of women in Fiji today will only change for the better if men in society recognise, highlight and address it.
Fiji Council of Social Services Executive Director Vani Catanasiga made the plea while speaking at the Ratu Kadavulevu School Centennial Celebration’s Business Symposium held in Suva this week.
Catanasiga said surveys show that women in Fiji bear the burden of care more than men.
“I’d like to talk about facilitating women into jobs, because this is the RKS Old Scholars Association, the challenge of facilitating women into jobs is both political and cultural, especially when you consider the burden of care that women disproportinately bear.”
“For women to achieve our goals for growth, this has to change. Men have to start sharing the care responsibility of the family and community.”
Catanasiga said that if men championed the drive to change the narrative, there will be an equal sharing of responsibilities.
“I appeal to you as RKS Old Scholars Association to join forces with the development sector, with Government, with NGO’s, to change the narrative, to reform culture that inhibits our growth.”
The Symposium organised by the 90’s decade scholars included speakers such as Itaukei Affairs Minister Ifereimi Vasu, Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica, Assistant Minister for Agriculture Tomasi Tunabuna and other executives from statutory bodies and the private sector.
