femLINKPACIFIC Statement on Fiji
30th November Peace Vigil Highlights: Reaffirming the Rule of Law & Peace Initiatives
femLINKPACIFIC Statement:
Today, as we unfurl the blue ribbon, which became an important symbol for our peace initiatives in 2000, I would like to share the following statement on behalf of femLINKPACIFIC – which was born from the women’s peace initiatives in this cathedral in 2000. Today’s peace vigil is an opportunity for us to reflect on the theme for the 16 days of activism and also consider how we can best contribute to solving the current civil-military impasse which is impeding our peace and reconciliation process.
I must say, that I have been encouraged to continue with our efforts, having recently had the opportunity to interview Fr Michael Lapsley, who reaffirmed that our interfaith peace vigils and women’s media initiatives, offer necessary spaces for women and local communities to be able to contribute to our long term reconstruction to ensure a just and inclusive reconciliation process; a sustainable peace and a future that we can all collectively share as Fiji islanders.
I am mindful however, that women in our country and our region continue to get lost within a rapidly evolving women’s movement, and are facing the burden of political instability and the realities of personal security.
But we must ask ourselves, how can we contribute to providing community-centred options and information/communication alternatives to the ‘frenzy of media reports offering nothing more than a blow-by-blow description of tensions and political commentary.”
I welcome the opportunity to open communication channels - not just through women’s media initiatives like femLINKpacific, but also through a focused use of the valuable spaces in mainstream media.
However, I have to echo the sentiments of many concerned citizens, in particular women, who are facing rising anxiety, fear and also anger as a result of the style of media coverage; this is a dilemma that we must all contribute to finding an amicable and inclusive solution to – to not only uphold the right of a free and independent press, but also to consider how the responsibility of media content, relies on all of us – to speak the language of peace and reconciliation.
The reality for so many women in our villages and rural settlements is that they remain invisible because they don’t have the space - in formal meetings and foras - to say what they think or feel. They remain deeply disempowered and ashamed even to break their own silence, because they are veiled by a society that purports to know what women feel and want. In 2006, we continue to face a conflux of values which means a woman often remains isolated because the violence she is facing is in her home.
Therefore I recognize that a key challenge to ensure that, in working for a Just’Peace for women and their families, the “victim” mentality is not perpetuated, excluding us from the long term formal process of reconstruction and transformation (notwithstanding the need for security reform.
femLINKpacific’s role in 2007 will be to strengthen our own rural community radio networks and broadcast systems; strengthen our young women’s empowerment programme using community radio, and to revive our regional media initiative on UNSCR 1325 in Fiji, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Tonga, to enhance women’s participation in our collective desire for peace. Our Blue Ribbon Peace Vigil will continue to provide an interfaith space for open dialogue for all communities.
This year, for the 16 days campaign, we salute the brave leaders of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre - who first took a stand more than twenty years ago to publicly denounce all forms of violence against women. The centre has a new building which stands tall in the heart of Suva’s business area, a symbol of dedication and countless unpaid volunteer hours, and of how, with focused advocacy and action and management, women’s organisations can grow, and attract financial support – and that women also can build and manage buildings! It is testament to Shamima Ali’s long perseverance in challenging the status quo, of her unwillingness to back down from drawing people out of their comfort zones to admit that we live in a violent society.
I also welcome efforts by religious leaders and initiatives: “The Church and violence against women”, a recent publication from the South Pacific Association of Theological Schools (SPATS), contributes to breaking the taboo of silence. At the book’s launch, the Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, Dr Shaista Shameem, suggested it would have far-reaching effects, and highlighted biblical aspects of human rights: “religious elders of all persuasions are often human rights’ most trenchant critics but they should find the human rights paradigm immensely valuable, because the basis of human rights, as well as all religions, is indeed the same, that is, justice and fairness.”
As I look forward to our organisation continuing to be a partner of other women’s groups and NGOs in assisting to break the silence on the many forms of violence – economic and institutionally based as well as domestic and local - which continue to blight many women’s lives – I also call on the women leaders of Fiji to assist us in this process; join us in our collective call for peace, justice and non violence …we need more voices of peace, we need to be willing to challenge ourselves to find options to contribute to the national reconstruction during the next few days, weeks and months – for those who we serve.
In the long term, we need more democratic communication systems like those we have been introducing in Fiji and the Pacific. These small steps are essential to ensure all women find their voices, in their local communities, so they can challenge existing power structures which continue to contribute to the violation of women’s human rights, despite the Fijian government’s ratification of CEDAW:
Let me conclude with the following poem by Joanne Ukali:
Woman Awaken To Yourself
Stand Up Now
Walk Forward Today
Your Mantra Is Strength And Courage
The Handcuffs You Imagine
Are Now Ones Of Your Own Making
You Hold The Key For Opening And Releasing
Decide Your Dreams And Goals
Moment By Moment
Step By Step
Bring That Scared Tiny Self Into Today
The Today Of The Woman You Have Become
Your Hips Sway With Rhythm
Your Blood Runs Like A Flowing River
Your Voice Is A Finely Tuned Instrument
Your Smile Is A Beacon For Others
Woman Awaken To Yourself
Say "I love You" To Your Reflection
Strength And Courage Is Your Mantra
The Handcuffs Are Off
Dance To The Rising Sun
Twirl
Twirl
Twirl
I hope you will continue this blue ribbon journey with us.
From fem’TALK eNews: Blue Ribbon Peace Special
A WOMEN’S MEDIA INITIATIVE OF femLINKPACIFIC, SUVA, FIJI ISLANDS
femLINKPACIFIC Statement:
Today, as we unfurl the blue ribbon, which became an important symbol for our peace initiatives in 2000, I would like to share the following statement on behalf of femLINKPACIFIC – which was born from the women’s peace initiatives in this cathedral in 2000. Today’s peace vigil is an opportunity for us to reflect on the theme for the 16 days of activism and also consider how we can best contribute to solving the current civil-military impasse which is impeding our peace and reconciliation process.
I must say, that I have been encouraged to continue with our efforts, having recently had the opportunity to interview Fr Michael Lapsley, who reaffirmed that our interfaith peace vigils and women’s media initiatives, offer necessary spaces for women and local communities to be able to contribute to our long term reconstruction to ensure a just and inclusive reconciliation process; a sustainable peace and a future that we can all collectively share as Fiji islanders.
I am mindful however, that women in our country and our region continue to get lost within a rapidly evolving women’s movement, and are facing the burden of political instability and the realities of personal security.
But we must ask ourselves, how can we contribute to providing community-centred options and information/communication alternatives to the ‘frenzy of media reports offering nothing more than a blow-by-blow description of tensions and political commentary.”
I welcome the opportunity to open communication channels - not just through women’s media initiatives like femLINKpacific, but also through a focused use of the valuable spaces in mainstream media.
However, I have to echo the sentiments of many concerned citizens, in particular women, who are facing rising anxiety, fear and also anger as a result of the style of media coverage; this is a dilemma that we must all contribute to finding an amicable and inclusive solution to – to not only uphold the right of a free and independent press, but also to consider how the responsibility of media content, relies on all of us – to speak the language of peace and reconciliation.
The reality for so many women in our villages and rural settlements is that they remain invisible because they don’t have the space - in formal meetings and foras - to say what they think or feel. They remain deeply disempowered and ashamed even to break their own silence, because they are veiled by a society that purports to know what women feel and want. In 2006, we continue to face a conflux of values which means a woman often remains isolated because the violence she is facing is in her home.
Therefore I recognize that a key challenge to ensure that, in working for a Just’Peace for women and their families, the “victim” mentality is not perpetuated, excluding us from the long term formal process of reconstruction and transformation (notwithstanding the need for security reform.
femLINKpacific’s role in 2007 will be to strengthen our own rural community radio networks and broadcast systems; strengthen our young women’s empowerment programme using community radio, and to revive our regional media initiative on UNSCR 1325 in Fiji, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Tonga, to enhance women’s participation in our collective desire for peace. Our Blue Ribbon Peace Vigil will continue to provide an interfaith space for open dialogue for all communities.
This year, for the 16 days campaign, we salute the brave leaders of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre - who first took a stand more than twenty years ago to publicly denounce all forms of violence against women. The centre has a new building which stands tall in the heart of Suva’s business area, a symbol of dedication and countless unpaid volunteer hours, and of how, with focused advocacy and action and management, women’s organisations can grow, and attract financial support – and that women also can build and manage buildings! It is testament to Shamima Ali’s long perseverance in challenging the status quo, of her unwillingness to back down from drawing people out of their comfort zones to admit that we live in a violent society.
I also welcome efforts by religious leaders and initiatives: “The Church and violence against women”, a recent publication from the South Pacific Association of Theological Schools (SPATS), contributes to breaking the taboo of silence. At the book’s launch, the Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, Dr Shaista Shameem, suggested it would have far-reaching effects, and highlighted biblical aspects of human rights: “religious elders of all persuasions are often human rights’ most trenchant critics but they should find the human rights paradigm immensely valuable, because the basis of human rights, as well as all religions, is indeed the same, that is, justice and fairness.”
As I look forward to our organisation continuing to be a partner of other women’s groups and NGOs in assisting to break the silence on the many forms of violence – economic and institutionally based as well as domestic and local - which continue to blight many women’s lives – I also call on the women leaders of Fiji to assist us in this process; join us in our collective call for peace, justice and non violence …we need more voices of peace, we need to be willing to challenge ourselves to find options to contribute to the national reconstruction during the next few days, weeks and months – for those who we serve.
In the long term, we need more democratic communication systems like those we have been introducing in Fiji and the Pacific. These small steps are essential to ensure all women find their voices, in their local communities, so they can challenge existing power structures which continue to contribute to the violation of women’s human rights, despite the Fijian government’s ratification of CEDAW:
Let me conclude with the following poem by Joanne Ukali:
Woman Awaken To Yourself
Stand Up Now
Walk Forward Today
Your Mantra Is Strength And Courage
The Handcuffs You Imagine
Are Now Ones Of Your Own Making
You Hold The Key For Opening And Releasing
Decide Your Dreams And Goals
Moment By Moment
Step By Step
Bring That Scared Tiny Self Into Today
The Today Of The Woman You Have Become
Your Hips Sway With Rhythm
Your Blood Runs Like A Flowing River
Your Voice Is A Finely Tuned Instrument
Your Smile Is A Beacon For Others
Woman Awaken To Yourself
Say "I love You" To Your Reflection
Strength And Courage Is Your Mantra
The Handcuffs Are Off
Dance To The Rising Sun
Twirl
Twirl
Twirl
I hope you will continue this blue ribbon journey with us.
From fem’TALK eNews: Blue Ribbon Peace Special
A WOMEN’S MEDIA INITIATIVE OF femLINKPACIFIC, SUVA, FIJI ISLANDS
posted by Pax Christi @ Monday, December 04, 2006
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