In 2001, the Labasa Women’s Forum highlighted a significant increase in poverty among women in the Northern Division of Fiji, as many in rural communities struggled to voice their concerns. According to a report from The Fiji Times on March 9 of that year, the forum’s coordinator, Manju Ram, revealed that assessments conducted over nine months showed that poverty had become a pressing issue for women.
Ram emphasized the limited opportunities available for rural women to express their challenges and urged the Ministry for Women and Culture to enhance its outreach programs. “Our request is for the ministry to reach out to rural areas and set up programs that could assist women in some way,” she stated. The forum, which is a non-governmental organization, provided scholarships for needy families in Vanua Levu. However, Ram noted that their resources could only extend so far.
On International Women’s Day that year, the forum hosted approximately 150 women from Wainikoro, Daku, and Seaqaqa at the Labasa Civic Centre. While some attendees were hesitant to participate, the response from other communities was notably strong. Three speakers from the Ministry of Health addressed the gathering, discussing health issues significantly impacting women in the North.
In Lautoka, a separate event saw about 50 women aged between 19 and 60 participating in a one-day workshop focused on rape and sexual abuse, organized by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. This event, also commemorating International Women’s Day, took place at the Cathay Hotel. Salote Malo, the centre’s counselling supervisor, explained that the workshop aimed to raise awareness of the escalating sexual offences and included contributions from representatives of the Police Sexual Offences Unit and the Social Welfare Department.
Participants included members of various women’s groups, like the Prison Wives Club. Malo highlighted the workshop’s purpose: empowering women to share knowledge on addressing incidents of rape and sexual abuse within their communities.
The efforts of both the Labasa Women’s Forum and the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre indicate a growing awareness and commitment to addressing critical issues affecting women in Fiji, encouraging dialogue and support to foster lasting change in their communities.