Women's Empowerment and Good Governance Through - amarc

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Best Experiences for an Action Research Process
logue, as well as a significant tool for the promotion of active non-violence strategies, including
the convening of the weekly Blue Ribbon Peace Vigil in Suva.
In Fiji, the formal process of negotiation established as a result of the Eminent Persons Report
continues to negotiate only with the Interim Administration without offering a formal space
through which women in all our diversities can inform and contribute. It is now time for the
women of Fiji, through civil society leaders who are committed to the realization of a just’
peace and women’s human rights are involved and supported to review and define a more
gender-inclusive – community empowerment process for the return to parliamentary democracy
by March 2009. Otherwise, the road map for Fiji will not highlight the realities of women
in all our diversities.
Community radio is the vehicle – “to increase the options and opportunities for Pacific women,
especially those living in poverty, by offering them a ‘space’ to ensure they are able to participate
in and shape political decision making at all levels toward a more gender-responsive
and people-centred governance that puts the interest of the whole society, especially the poor,
above the traditional politicians’ and elites’ interests (40).”
Women’s experiences as a result of Fiji’s political history of internal conflicts have also meant
dealing with new social and economic problems, but unfortunately mainstream media and government
based information sources have not provided a multi-ethnic vehicle for people from all
our ethnic and communities, to collectively articulate their views on issues and stories.
Women’s limited access or even inability to access media, let alone technology, is actually a
reflection of the personal, institutional and systematic barriers, including traditional practices,
at work in many societies. Other drawbacks include gender barriers such as illiteracy, time
constraints, costs, geographical location and social cultural norms, which mean women have
to continue to play ‘development catch up’. These are important factors for consideration, if we
want to ensure the women’s perspective at all levels of decision making and implementation;
after all, one of the best ways to mainstream the gender perspectives is through the media.
Community media as a vehicle for empowerment and transformation
femLINKpacific develops, produces and distributes a range of women’s Community Media