About the NAP

The consultation process will be inclusive and include lesbian, bisexual and trans women; women with disabilities; women in rural and remote areas; adolescent girls; and women from all diverse ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds.

2.4   Expected outcomes of the National Consultations

The following are the intended outcomes for the national consultations with the 13 key settings in Fiji.

a)   A shared understanding as a nation on ‘Why’ VAWG happens in Fiji, its root causes and contributing factors

b)  A shared agreement of ‘What’ actions and strategies are essential in each key setting to address the root cause and contributing factors of VAWG in Fiji.

c)  A shared agreement on the roles and responsibilities that different stakeholders might play in implementing the National

Action Plan strategies/actions in their setting

d)  A shared agreement on the kinds of support (skilled workforce, coordination mechanisms, leadership, and finances among others) that will be necessary to make the National Action plan effective in each setting

2.5   Key stakeholders to be consulted from each setting

Stakeholders are key people from within each setting in Fiji as well as in the community.  A cross section of key stakeholders from within each setting/sector to include:

• Leaders in specific settings and sectors

• Policy makers in relevant government agencies

• Specialist services responding to domestic violence and sexual assault

• Women’s organisations, networks and others working on gender equality and VAWG

• Non-government organisations working with or on behalf of women, Indigenous communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people living with a disability, and LGBTQI communities.

• Academics and researchers

Community stakeholders can include:

•  Young people (aged 16-30).

•  Older people.

• LGBTQI.

• People living with disabilities.

• Community groups and societies.

• Single parent families.

• Faith groups (from a range of different faiths).

• People employed in the community.

• Sex workers.

• Local businesses.

• Minority ethnic groups.

• Turanga ni Koro and village health workers.

• Traditional leaders; Advisory councils / i-Taukei Affairs and persons of influence.

• Families

3         Guiding Principles

The National Consultations in Fiji will be guided by the following principles.

Inclusivity and Diversity: the approach will engage a broad range of stakeholders. This means a wide range of people across the country, from different settings/sectors and population groups at all levels and divisions in Fiji will be consulted. This includes women living with disabilities, elderly women, LGBTQ communities, remote and rural women, and stakeholders (e.g. eastern division, interior of Fiji, informal settlements), language (e.g. different ethnic groups from marginalised communities), young people, and other vulnerable groups.

An Intersectional frame will also be used to understand the dynamics of how different factors that make up a person’s identity interact and shape their experiences, recognising that inequalities are never the result of one distinct factor.

Advance partnership and coordination: working across and with government, civil society, development partners and community groups.

4         National Talanoa Approach & Process

The national consultations will use a shared approach, one built around workshop discussions, small group exercises, and whole group talanoa to share key information with stakeholders and reach a shared agreement and consensus. The goal is to facilitate open discussion on the problem of VAWG in Fiji and validate what each key setting can do to prevent violence against women and girls. 

What we want to share with key stakeholders from each setting:

•  What is Fiji’s National Action plan, process, and approach to its development

•  ‘Why’ VAWG happens in Fiji, its root causes and contributing factors

•  ‘What” Essential to prevent VAWG are needed to impact the underlying root causes & contributing factors of VAWG in Fiji.

•  The national outcomes Fiji’s National Action plan aims to achieve

•  ‘Where’ prevention work can be implemented (13 key settings in Fiji)

•  The role of each key setting in preventing VAWG and evidence base that exists on ‘what works to prevent violence against   women and girls in that setting

•  ‘How’ prevention work is best implemented through specific strategies and actions to address the root causes &   contributing factors of VAWG.

What we want to ask each setting (Talanoa)

•  Which key strategies and actions (the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ of prevention) are best suited for their setting in Fiji

•  The roles and responsibilities that different stakeholders might play in implementing the national action plan strategies/actions in their setting

•  The kinds of supports that will be necessary to make the National Action plan effective in their setting (e.g. skilled workforce, building on existing work etc)