IWDA offers a heart-felt congratulations to all our colleagues in fem’LINKPACIFIC on the sixth year of their innovative suitcase radio program. Congratulations!
IWDA has proudly supported fem’LINKPACIFIC’s Generation Next Program for 3 years, and during this time has seen the organisation and the program go from strength to strength. The last 3 years in particular have seen the organisation opening a fantastic Community Media Centre, providing training to over 40 young women to become radio producers and broadcasters, bringing the voices of women in rural and urban areas to policy makers through policy papers, radio programs and newsletters, and the production of excellent radio content – including radio dramas, interviews, and jingles, like the “Peace and Human Security, this is what it means to me” jingle.
fem’LINKPACIFIC has just released the first Women, Peace and Human Security Report for 2010, created to ensure women’s effective participation in defining peace and human security priorities in Fiji.
The report outlines the priorities of women living in Fiji between January and April 2010, identified by fem’LINKPACIFIC, in their work undertaking 105 Household and Income Expenditure Survey reports (HIES); rural consultations with 71 which are an opportunity for a core group of women to frame their every day realities into a Human Security framework; and 36 interviews that were carried out by the Generation Next girls through vox pops and market Reports.
The report identifies women’s top priorities during this time – economic security, environmental security, and health security – all of which interconnected and dependent on personal safety and security.
Solidarity is Powerful
I am in Suva in Fiji, spending time with a dozen women from informal settlements and squatter communities who are part of the feminist community organization, Women’s Action for Change (WAC).
Over the past four years, over 250 women have been quietly building a sustainable network of women community organisers in 15 informal settlements in Fiji. They are actively making decisions on the training they require, collectively evaluating the program, doing fundraising and micro-enterprise work, and increasingly taking up decision-making positions within their own family groups, communities and networks, and at WAC.
Radio Peace
IWDA ED Jane Sloane is currently visiting some of IWDA’s partners in the Pacific.
This update comes from Fiji where Jane spent time with some of our program partners.
“I’ve arrived in Suva just as the Peace Boat has berthed. How wonderful for the psyche to see a large ship with the words ‘Peace Boat’ on her side.
A number of Peace Boat passengers chose to visit Generation Next at fem’LINKPACIFIC’s offices to learn more about suitcase radio and the work of young women in building awareness and action around UN Resolution 1325.
Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, the dynamic Executive Director of fem’LINKPACIFIC introduces some of the young women involved and gives an overview of the work of the organization to the visitors.”
IWDA partner agency fem’LINKPACIFIC report from the ground in post-cyclone Fiji
Fiji are currently in a state of natural disaster after a cyclone tore through the northern and eastern parts earlier this week, leaving villages in disarray and thousands without shelter.
Sharon Bhagwan Rolls from IWDA partner agency fem’LINKPACIFIC reports from the ground.
Australia increases support for women in conflict situations
On International Women’s Day last week, the Federal Government announced nearly $4 million in funding to support women’s roles in peace-building and to respond to violence against women in conflict situations.
IWDA welcomes this funding, particularly for IWDA’s program partner fem’LINKPACIFIC to support women’s roles in peace-building, in partnership with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.
Congratulations to Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls from fem’LINKPACIFIC!
IWDA is proud to say that Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls, Producer-Director of IWDA partner organisation fem’LINKPACIFIC, has recently been chosen to sit on the UN Expert Panel on the Role of Women in Peace and Security.
Congratulations Sharon! You are an extraordinary activist and voice for not only the women of the Pacific, but for women around the world, and we are delighted that your unwavering commitment to women, peace and security has been recognised in such an environment.
IWDA partner agency fem’LINKPACIFIC’s latest editions of fem’TALK are now available online.
In the latest E-MegaZine bulletin, the spotlight is on Beijing “Plus” Fifteen in “Looking at Our World Through Women’s Eyes”. You can also catch up on the preparations for the 54th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York this month and get the latest updates on GEAR.
