By Angela Marie Watkins
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Among pleas for gender equality and maternity pay, a workshop on violence against women has sparked calls for legislation encompassing all abuse against women.

The Fiji Women’s Crisis Center hosted the Pacific Regional Meeting on Violence Against Women in Fiji last week with 60 attendees from 11 Pacific countries.

Edwina Kotoisuva, the Deputy Coordinator of the Center, said most organizations at the workshop are strengthening relations with their respective governments to pursue a reform in their laws.

“What we’re hoping to do is that countries look into having overarching violence against women legislation so it includes domestic violence, sexual assault and then can take into account emerging issues that have come through in the Pacific, such as trafficking, which is a cause for concern for some of our Pacific countries,” said Kotoisuva.

During the meeting, the Fiji Women’s Crisis Center also argued for legislation recognizing that maternity leave and pay is a woman’s right and should not be seen as a burden by employers.

Stephen Fisher, an advocate with the Chisholm Institute in Melbourne, spoke at the meeting and argued that a gender-imbalanced society will breed violence, but it can be eliminated when men listen more to women and help them with housework, raising children, cooking and cleaning.

Fisher also stated that he felt much progress was made at the meeting.

For more information, please see:/em>
New Zealand International Radio – Regional conference hears plea for gender equality – 16 June 2009

New Zealand International Radio – Workshop calls for laws to halt abuse of women – 16 June 2009

Fiji Times – Maternity pay is a woman’s right -16 June 2009