Fijian Parliament advances gender equality through reform and action

The Fijian Parliament has reaffirmed its dedication to gender equality and women’s representation through a series of innovative reforms.

Speaking at the 9th CWP Conference Workshop on Gender Sensitive Parliaments, Deputy Speaker and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua, emphasized that true gender equality requires transforming Parliament itself – its policies, structures, and culture – to serve both women and men equally.

A major milestone in this effort is the integration of gender equality into the Standing Orders. Specifically, Standing Order 110(2) requires all parliamentary committees to apply a gender lens in their work – whether in legislative review, oversight, or inquiries – making gender analysis a standard practice.

To support this, Parliament introduced the Toolkit on Scrutinising Legislation from a Gender Perspective in 2017. This toolkit equips committees with practical methods for asking critical questions, using sex-disaggregated data, and making evidence-based decisions.

Hon. Qereqeretabua also shared her personal experience applying gender analysis in committee work, which has led to more inclusive outcomes and improved reporting across government bodies.

Additionally, the Parliament Secretariat provides gender-focused briefings during national budget discussions, highlighting programmes and allocations that promote gender equality and benefit women and girls.

In 2024, the government launched the Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting Manual, reinforcing a whole-of-government approach to integrating gender equality into financial planning.

Hon. Qereqeretabua expressed hope that Fiji’s experience will serve as a model for other Commonwealth parliaments, demonstrating how institutional reform, practical tools, and committed leadership can drive measurable progress toward gender equality.