“Our representation to provincial council meetings and district councils should reflect the makeup of the community they represent,” said Divina Loloma, Chair of the United Rescue Missions and a member of the Ba network of rural women leaders.
“There should be opportunities for diverse women to enter these (decision-making) spaces...start looking into the gaps and what’s the problem in diversifying these places.”
Divina was one of fourteen women who attended the Ba district convening to discuss the role of community media in peacebuilding and particularly the significance of women leaders as catalysts of change and peace in their families and communities.
“We need to start making changes to these policies. We live in an era where we should be seeing a diverse representation in leadership,” said Divina.
“We need more women leaders for the well-being of the women in the community. Who will the women talk to when there is domestic violence? Who will speak for us?” added Kamlesh Lata, Vice President of the Varoka Tavaro Naari Sabha.
“When we think “political”, we’re thinking of the national level but we should bring it down: look at our community engagement, there needs to be women in decision-making,” says Fane Boseiwaqa, convenor for the Rakiraki, Ba, Tavua districts.
Boseiwaqa led discussions during the Ba convening under the International Day of Peace theme, “Shaping Peace Together”.
Vani Tuvuki, President of the Koronubunu Women’s Group and Ba District Council of Social Services (DCOSS) said policies need to change to reflect the times.
“We know that things raised here (district convenings) will go beyond here because of community media,” she added, emphasizing the role of community media in peacebuilding within communities.
“We are fighting for 50 percent even if the government is fighting for 30 percent diverse women’s representation in leadership,” Tuvuki said.