WOMEN must have an input into peace and security discussions.
Activist Sharon Bhagwan Rolls made the remarks while explaining her role in a workshop for rural women in Nadi.
The FemLINKPACIFIC Rural Women, Peace and Human Security Training at the Nadi Town Council chambers is designed to help rural women better understand the role of FemLINKPACIFIC in the community.
It was also used for the launch of educational material on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in Fijian, Hindi and Rotuman and to gather data from women's organizations in the west. The resolution is a landmark document that addresses the disproportionate and unique impact of conflict on women.
It also recognizes women's contributions to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace-building.
"My role as coordinator of this workshop is to ensure that women's groups are fully aware and informed on this groundbreaking resolution and to also to try and enable relevant government agencies to integrate UNSCR1325 in their decision making process," she said.
Rolls also said she was a strong advocate for increasing the number of women in the decision making process in the local, provincial, national and regional level.
"In circumstances where peace and security is discussed, I really believe it is imperative that women have some say," she said.
Data collected during the five day conference will be collated with information gathered from other divisions in the country and presented by Rolls as a report to the United Nations Civil Society Advisory Group Meeting in Washington in June this year.
