Suva, Fiji - The Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho has assumed his role as a role-model for the advancement of gender equality in commemoration of International Women’s Day, 8 March 2022 (IWD 2022) today. The commemoration ceremony which was held at the Fiji Police Force Headquarters was followed by community servicing activities in Nadawa, Central Division by the Fiji Police Force Community Policing team. The initiative was supported by the Fiji Police Force Support Project implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) funded by New Zealand.

The Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho said, “We are an organization that greatly values the contribution of our fellow women officers who have set benchmarks and created history locally, regionally and internationally. We will continue to support gender inclusivity efforts in all aspects of administration and policing operations”.

The 2022 IWD commemoration ceremony was presided over by Director Community Policing SSP Bereta Naisua, who is the Chair of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) Women’s Advisory Network (WAN). SSP Naisua is one the two out of 13 Directors in the Fiji Police Force.

Her Excellency Ms. Charlotte Darlow, the New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji noted that Aotearoa New Zealand is a long-standing champion for the rights of women and girls in all their diversity. “We are proud to support work that promotes the elimination of violence against women and girls, and promotes the voices and leadership of women and girls in decision making processes,” said Her Excellency Ms. Darlow.

The United Nations set the theme for IWD 2022 as, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, recognizing the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge to build a more sustainable, inclusive and equal future for all.

With financial and technical support from New Zealand, the Fiji Police Force Support Project supports the FPF to improve early access to justice in criminal proceedings and strengthen a survivor-centred approach to investigations in partnership with Fiji’s justice institutions. The engagement prioritises gender responsive and human rights-based approach to access to justice for vulnerable groups and promote gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.

Ms. Yemesrach Workie, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Officer-in-Charge said that the role played by women as effective and powerful leaders and change-makers has been significantly contributing to peace, security and justice at community, country and global levels.

“UNDP through this Project recognizes and highlights the efforts made by women police officers to advance gender equality within the institution and in wider society along with their male colleagues and break the bias and stereotypes for a world free of stereotypes and discrimination, more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Their contribution to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 16 to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies is significant,” said Ms. Workie.

The commemoration ceremony was followed by community servicing activities in Nadawa, Central Division, led by the Director Community Policing SSP Bereta Naisua. Police Officers engaged with members of the community to commemorate IWD 2022, conducting awareness raising programmes, neighbourhood cleaning and sports activities. Support programmes for sexual and gender-based violence / domestic violence survivors were / are being conducted in the communities with provision of 150 dignity kits prepared by the Project and distributed to five Divisions.

The social media campaign has been launched by the Fiji Police Force in the run-up to IWD 2022 and beyond to feature a number of serving women police officers who in their own way are breaking biases and stereotypes.

For media queries, please contact:

Ana Naisoro, Fiji Police Force; tel.: +679 3348107 / +679 990 5999; email: abnaisoro@gmail.com

Tomoko Kashiwazaki, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji; tel.: +679 715 8051; email: tomoko.kashiwazaki@undp.org