FIJI: Not Just Sweet Talk Campaign: Gauging Participation

Access to information including education programmes for rural women to enable them to participate in formal decision making structures, transforming structures to increase levels of participation at local level to comply with women's human rights treaties and conventions including UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Women, Peace and Security) will be some of the key issues to be raised during the next television simulcast in conjunction with FemTALK89FM the community radio station operated by FemLINKPacific - live from Nausori on Tuesday 04 September.

As the Not Just Sweet Talk campaign continues in Nausori this week some of the members of the organisation's rural community media network will be appearing on television in a series of interactive conversations which bring to light the leadership qualities and dedication of women from local clubs and village community life.

"The Not Just Sweet Talk" campaign builds on FemLINKPACIFIC's community videos and radio broadcasts in 2001 and 2006 and provides a media platform for rural women leaders to address a range of priorities they would like to be accounted for in the work of the Constitution Commission as well as the long term process of democratization," says FemLINKPacific Executive Director, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls.

Ongoing local level network meetings will also be increased to enable more women to access information and utilise the community media spaces such as the community radio programmes and broadcasts:

Rural broadcasts are also scheduled for Ba and Tavua in the coming weeks with a "first ever" simulcast is also planned for the western division.

Since 2007 FemLINKPacific's rural community media network meetings, consultations and community radio broadcasts have provided a participatory and interactive process to link rural women's networks with initiatives such as the Fiji Women's Forum and other women's rights groups to also provide relevant support to enable rural women to engage proactively in process of democratization, including Constitution submissions.

The activity is part of the Fiji activities of the Regional Women's Media and Policy Network on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and undertaken with additional support from USAID and the American Bar Association (ABA) - Rule of Law Initiative as well as the European Union, UNDP – Strengthening Capacities for Peace and Development Project, the Generation Next project supported by the International Women's Development Agency and in collaboration with the Fiji Women's Rights Movement.