SUVA, June 19 (Xinhua) -- A four-day Pacific Women Leaders Program, which focuses on gender equality, was held in Suva, Fiji, bringing together women leaders and representatives of various agencies from across the Pacific region, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation reported on Wednesday.
This meeting, attended by representatives from Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu, discussed improving the awareness of the Pacific region's standing in relation to global gender gaps in accordance with relevant gender equality indicators.
While addressing the opening ceremony, Fiji's Minister for Women Lynda Tabuya highlighted the significant strides made in the country over the past 30 years in areas such as education, maternal mortality, access to health services, technology, and infrastructure.
However, the recent Fiji Country Gender Assessment revealed ongoing challenges hindering the empowerment of Fijian women and girls.
The minister called for collective participation in challenging existing norms to create a supportive environment for all individuals. ■