JOINT STATEMENT BY THE CORE GROUP ON ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ENSURING WOMEN’S AND GIRLS’ FULL ENJOYMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva
Fiji is at the forefront in calling for a comprehensive approach to building an inclusive and empowering society for women and girls. This has been conveyed through the demonstration of Fiji’s strong leadership during yesterday’s high level discussions on “human rights of women,” held at the margins of the 44th session of the Human Rights Council.
Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Nazhat Shameem delivered a joint statement on behalf of the core group for the “forthcoming resolution on Accountability for ensuring women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights in humanitarian settings; Canada, Georgia, Sweden, Uruguay and Fiji.”
Ambassador Khan stated that ”Conflicts and disasters affect more and more people around the world. When crisis strikes, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, pre-existing gender inequalities are often exacerbated and further impede women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights.
“In humanitarian settings, the breakdown, or lack, of institutions and infrastructure, along with pre-existing gender-based violence and discrimination, often prevent women and girls from accessing justice and remedies. Absence of accountability fuels impunity. In addressing these challenges, it is important to recognize women’s and girls’ agency, as well as the need for men and boys to engage,” Ambassador Khan said.
She said that continued dialogue and multisectoral cooperation is vital in advancing the human rights and empowerment of women and girls.
“Ensuring accountability for human rights violations and abuses is central to fulfilling States’ obligations under international human rights law. We therefore welcome today’s panel discussion, on a comprehensive approach which goes beyond judicial accountability to include principles of participation, transparency, non-discrimination, empowerment, sustainability, and international cooperation, and that places victims and survivors at the center of all interventions.
“Building on today’s important panel discussion, the core group will present a resolution at HRC45 on accountability for ensuring women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights in humanitarian settings,” Ambassador Khan said.
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Several members of Public Accounts Committee of the Fijian Parliament visiting Wellington this week took advantage of a visit to the Wellington City Council’s Southern Landfill yesterday to glean a few ideas for waste management in Fiji. This included the Hon. Alexander O’Connor, Assistant Minister for Health, Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, Opposition parliamentarian and Ms. Priya Chand, Parliamentary Secretary who were accompanied by the Fiji High Commission New Zealand staff.
The Southern landfill is an impressive setup particularly as it focuses on recycling and minimising the damage to the environment at the landfill.
Other remarkable features of the landfill were its gas collection, electricity regeneration, green waste mulching and water table management. The Hon. O’Connor, an engineer by profession, was particularly impressed and intends to develop a few ideas for the Fijian Government to consider.
The PAC members were invited to attend the Pacific PAC training seminar in Wellington facilitated by UNDP from the 12th to the 13th December.
The PAC members, including Deputy Chair, Hon. Mohammed Dean, MP, were hosted to afternoon tea at the Fiji Chancery. It was an opportunity for the Parliamentarians to meet the Locally Engaged Staff at the Mission and also update the staff on the work and concerns of the Public A
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