The government has announced it will give $12.6 million to the Fiji Gender Action Programme to boost support and services for curbing violence against women.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta, who are in Fiji as part of the Pacific Islands Forum, announced the funding this morning.
Ardern said the programme - Marama Ni Viti - would put the funding towards the Ministry for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, the Fiji Women's Rights Movement, Women's Fund Fiji, Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, and UN Women.
"This will deliver increased support to a wide range of services such as those that responded to and prevent violence against women through to programmes that supporting exchange and mentoring between female New Zealand and Fijian Members of Parliament," she said.
"The funding will also expand work undertaken by the Fiji Ministry for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation to ensure Fiji's public service agencies have policies that are responsive to and empower women."
Mahuta noted gender equality was a central tenet of the Duavata Aotearoa New Zealand Fiji Partnership she signed with Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama in March.