UNA Fiji Engaged in National Validation on Strengthening Social Cohesion Pathways, Human Rights, and Women’s Civic Participation
UNA Fiji participated in the “Strengthening Social Cohesion Pathways, Human Rights, and Women’s Civic Participation” validation workshop, a significant initiative aimed at fostering peace and unity across Fijian communities. The project, coordinated by UNDP, UN Women Pacific, and UN Human Rights Pacific, is supported by the British High Commission and funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund. This collaboration brought together representatives from diverse organizations to validate and refine insights gathered from initial or pre dialogues with various groups, including CSOs, Women, Youth, and religious organizations.
In the keynote speech Hon. Mr. Pio Tikoduadua, Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration reaffirmed the Government's commitment to this project and that they are happy to take this on board.
Representing UNA Fiji, Hon. Secretary Mr. Vipin Maharaj expressed gratitude to the UN agencies, the Fiji Government, facilitators, co-designers, and all stakeholders for their commitment to this critical initiative. “Now more than ever, we need spaces that allow meaningful dialogue and bring communities together to address pressing social issues,” Mr. Maharaj remarked.
Mr. Maharaj highlighted several key recommendations to enhance the project’s impact and effectiveness. Notably, he emphasized that the project report should be structured to list identified issues in order of importance. “Organizing the report to prioritize issues will serve as a valuable framework, helping stakeholders to focus resources on the areas of greatest need,” he explained.
He also stressed the need to expand dialogue opportunities, particularly in more populous provinces where a single dialogue may not adequately address local needs. One dialogue per province may fall short, especially in regions with larger populations. It’s essential that we find ways to cater to all communities meaningfully. Additionally, Mr. Maharaj also expressed the need for safe spaces so everyone participates
Mr. Maharaj further urged the project team to extend dialogues into Fiji’s interior regions, where communities often lack access to such initiatives. He recommended that the language used in these dialogues be clear and simple ensuring that all participants, regardless of background, can engage fully.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Maharaj called for a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the project’s implementation. “A robust M&E framework will be vital to track progress and ensure the sustainable impact of this important initiative,”.
The validation marked a critical step in developing inclusive pathways to foster social cohesion in Fiji, reflecting the commitment of all participating organizations to support peace and unity across the nation.
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