Tell me what an activist looks like?
This is what an activist looks like!
The NGO Coalition on Human Rights (NGOCHR) organized a march through Suva today (December 10) to commemorate Human Rights Day and the end of the 16 Days of Activism.
Almost 200 people marched from the Flea Market to Sukuna Park, with chants ranging from calling for safe homes to ending police brutality to freeing West Papua.
Papua!
Merdeka!
Papua!
Merdeka!
“We have been profiling, protecting, promoting and ensuring that none of our human rights are abused or if they are, then we call to attention the duty bearers and we call to attention accountability towards those that violate rights,” said Nalini Singh, Chair of the NGOCHR and Executive Director of the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM).
While addressing the crowd after the march, Singh said for FWRM, being part of the human rights movement meant respect for women’s rights, respect for children’s rights, respect for the environment that we work in, and respect for the workplaces we work in:
“Not only demanding equal pay for equal value of work but we are talking about safe workplaces, safe homes, safe streets and a safe Fiji for all of us. A Fiji where we have our human rights protected,” she said.
What do we want?
Safe homes!
When do we want it?
NOW!
“When there’s women’s rights and where there’s human rights all connected, there’s no two ways about it: women feel peaceful, they feel secure, the communities become secure,” said Susan Grey, femLINK’s Executive Director.
Grey took this opportunity to highlight the struggles of the Rural Women Leaders Community Media Network (RWLCMN), compounded by COVID-19:
“It’s also about remembering the women who are not here with us...let us commemorate international human rights day and remember all those that are not here and whose voices we are collectively trying to amplify,” she said.
Grey also called out “leaders in Fiji” to think of those suffering: “Stop being in your bubble and thinking it’s all about you. It’s been a very challenging year....this is a time for empathy, look beyond your noses, have compassion and look at the greater picture and respect everyone’s human rights.”
What do we want?
Human rights!
When do we want it?
NOW!
Chantelle Khan, Executive Director of the Social Empowerment and Education Programmes (SEEP) in a powerful message to the crowd also acknowledged the late Batai Iliesa’s activism:
“He stood up for his human right and the rights of the people who were in that place in Nausori that day. There are some police...who may not know that human rights is to be protected. And there are people who go through this everyday and they are quiet about it because they don’t know where else to go.”
She said, “When you come and march today, when you bring your families and children to come and march with us today, that’s making the statement that Fiji needs to understand. That’s making a statement that we all believe in because that’s why we are all here.”
Tell me what a feminist looks like?
This is what a feminist looks like!
Me rokovi na dodonu ni tamata!