Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission 11
Alternative report to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women on the fifth periodic review of Fiji
Participation in Political and Public Life
Civil society organizations in
collaboration with the state play a
critical role in provision of
reproductive health services,
counseling, shelter and access to
justice for women forced into
prostitution.
The state has not adopted
Temporary Special Measures
The Constitution however explicitly
references sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity and expression as
prohibited grounds of
discrimination and guarantees the
right to political participation.
Following the 2014 general election,
women parliamentarians make 14%
of the legislature with a female
Speaker, Leader of Opposition,
Ministers and Assistant Ministers.
Out of its 18 diplomatic missions,
women make 30% of the postings
including 3 Heads of Missions.
Education
Section 31 of the constitution
guarantees the right to education.
State provides free tuition including
free tuition to accredited pre
schools and technical colleges, bus
or boat fares, free textbooks at all
levels, free cereal and milk for all
Year 1 students and National
Toppers Scholarships and Tertiary
Education Loan Scheme and
women can access the scheme to
further their education.
Discrimination on the basis of
pregnancy is prohibited under the
Constitution. Therefore pregnant
girls are encouraged to return and
complete their education.
Consistent with the
recommendations of the UN Special