FIJI: Asia-Pacific Women to Meet on Environmental Management

Women from South East Asia and Pacific countries will meet in Fiji to discuss issues relating to managing home environment, food security and disaster management, the Fijian government announced Tuesday.

The 25th Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women's Association ( PPSEAWA) International Conference will be held for a week in Suva from August 24-31, the Ministry of Information said in a statement, adding that the meeting will provide an opportunity for women to share information and experiences on various policies and programs based on the theme "Managing the environment for a sustainable and peaceful world".

"It will be an excellent opportunity for women in Fiji to participate at the highest international level in planning and discussions on issues of concern," said Fiji's Minister of Women and Social Welfare Jiko Luveni. "Our right to host this meeting reflects that Fiji has been recognized and embraced as a deserving member of PPSEAWA."

Luveni said the Fijian government is happy to support the international conference and has given a grant of 50,000 Fiji dollars (26,730 U.S. dollars) for the meeting.

According to the PPSEAWA (Fiji) vice president, Ravesi Johnston, since its inception in 1928, this is going to be the first time for Fiji to host this international conference.

"We are grateful to the government particularly to the Minister for Women Dr Jiko Luveni for her support in providing this timely assistance. We are expecting about 200 participants from Fiji and South East Asia including Russia," she said.

The conference is expected to focus on three major sub-themes, "Disaster management and food security", "Our biodiversity, our identity, our responsibility" and "Managing the home environment for a peaceful and happy family existence".

"We hope that the exchange of experiences, information and ideas, the coming conference will assist and educate the members to utilize coping strategies and return to their countries with information and knowledge to make a difference in their communities," said Johnston.

Originally founded as Pan Pacific Women's Association, the PPSEAWA is a non-political, voluntary organization, which has adopted the vision of promoting peace through dialogue, understanding and friendship among the women in the Asia-Pacific region.