Fiji Sun

Participants of the Women’s Parliament Fiji 2016 from the Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei from left: Ana Fine Domoni, Adi Litia Bouwalu and Sereana Macedru outside Parliament yesterday. Photo: Filipe Naigulevu

It was a lifetime experience for Adi Litia Bouwalu to be part of the first ever Women’s Parliament Fiji 2016 at Parliament in Suva yesterday.

Adi Litia, who is a member of the rural-based women’s group, Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei, is representing the Ba Province at the three-day session.

“This is a good experience especially for us coming from rural areas. Many of us applied but the few of us that were chosen are blessed,” she said.

Adi Litia said it was the first time for her to visit Parliament, a memory she would cherish always.

“I’ve never been here before, this is a wonderful experience to be here amongst women representatives from other organisations,” she said.

Adi Litia said the Women’s Parliament was a good learning ground for her to raise various issues affecting women in rural areas and learn more about Parliament.

“I hope to raise issues such as gender equality as I believe that there should be more equality,” she said.

“Climate change is also happening nowadays and needs to be addressed and this Women’s Parliament will educate us more especially those of us that will be in our individual villages and districts.”

Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei representative from the province of Ra, Ana Fine Domoni, echoed similar sentiments and called on more focus on rural women and their participation in such forums.

“There should also be more focus from the Government on rural women because these are the ones that really need help in every sense, health wise, education,” she said.

“There needs to be a lot more focus on women in Ra as it is one of the biggest provinces in Fiji and it is the mandate of Government to look after the provinces, to support and empower them.”

Ms Domoni also highlighted the work of the Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei towards rural women in the 14 provinces.

She reiterated the need to work together with other faith-based and ethnic women groups on various issues affecting women.

“I feel that there is still a lot of demarcation. There should also be a lot of working together in various women groups. Working together brings a lot of strength,” she said.

Ms Domoni, a former civil servant, hopes to highlight the issue of wellness and advocating on the need to promote buying local and fresh produce at the Women’s Parliament.

“This is good and I must commend Parliament in coming up with the initiative and I also thank the donors, UNDP, EU, Australian and NZ governments and even the Japanese government,” she said.

“I think this should remain on the Parliament calendar on a yearly basis.” Edited by Naisa Koroi

Feedback: filipe.naigulevu@fijisun.com.fj

Originally published at Fijisun.com.fj on August 17, 2016.