A group of four diverse and dynamic feminist organisations are working together at the We Rise Coalition to keep the Beijing Platform for Action alive for women in the Pacific region.
The group’s action is also ensuring accountability to women’s human rights.
The partners in the We Rise Coalition are using their collective power to send a message about women’s human rights issues in Fiji and the Pacific at the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
This will be convened at the UN headquarters in New York from March 13 – 24.
In 1994, Pacific Governments adopted the Pacific Platform for Action (PPA) which guided the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action at the UN 4th World Conference of Women in 1995.
Since then CSW remains critical to ensuring accountability in the Pacific region and at the global level.
“We want to hold our governments to the highest standards in terms of promoting women’s rights so that the local lived realities of women are put at the centre stage in front of our decision makers to ensure that the political commitments made at that level are to the highest standards and there is no roll back” says Nalini Singh the Executive Director of the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement based in Suva Fiji.
According to Caroline Lambert, the Director of Research, Policy and Advocacy at the Melbourne based International Women’s Development Agency, the UN needs to take into consideration of Pacific feminist and share their view on issues like climate change.
“From a Pacific feminist’s point of view, it’s also really important that we be there and loud and present. Too often the United Nations never takes proper account of the issues that are specific to the Pacific. CSW is also an important space for Pacific feminists to come together with other Small Island Development States (SIDS).” to find the common ground, and to share a voice particularly in light of the impact that climate change has had on SIDS.”
And Pacific SIDS Governments are where Noelene Nabulivou, the Political Adviser of DIVA for Equality wants to ensure robust linkages with human rights, as they champion regional priorities such as climate change.
Photo: UN Headquarters