Comment: Pacific Contradictions, Telling Fiji What To Do
(By Jocelynne Scutt)
Without acknowledging the irony - the most likely explanation being that
they simply have no comprehension of it - the so-called Eminent Persons
Group has arrived in Fiji and begun investigations into the most recent Fiji
coup.
The Eminent Persons Group was established by the Pacific Islands Forum in
December 2006, three days before the coup, to "find a peaceful outcome"
between then Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and Commodore Frank Bainimarama,
military leader and now caretaker prime minister. Post the coup, the group
is now in Fiji with a focus on taking into account the current situation,
where an interim government is engaged in "moving Fiji forward".
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living in the 21st century, this should be an obvious omission for many
reasons.
Not the least is that many wise and powerful women are a part of the Pacific
nations making up the Forum. Equally obvious, Fijian women - wise and
powerful themselves - have a right to know that their issues, concerns,
perceptions and understandings vis-à-vis the coup, their country and the way
for the future will be paid proper attention.
All Fijian women and men have a right to be assured that any so-called
Eminent Persons Group, so long as it purports to exercise authority and make
recommendations, has a capacity to appreciate and understand the
circumstances, hopes and wishes of all Fijians. This is hardly likely with a
line-up that comprises solely of men.
The Eminent Persons Group is tasked with:
-assessing the underlying causes and the nature of the overthrow of the
Government of Fiji by the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces;
-assessing the prospects for appropriate resolution of the present situation
in Fiji in the short and medium term and obstacles to such a resolution;
-identifying steps that the parties in Fiji may take to move swiftly and
peacefully toward the restoration of democratic government, within the
boundaries of Fiji's constitution and the rule of law; and
-considering the role the Pacific Forum and its members might most usefully
play in assisting Fiji to achieve this outcome.
Way back on October 31, 2000 in New York, the United Nations Security
Council passed Resolution 1325 unanimously, providing that women should be
centrally involved in world and nations conflict resolution. It is the first
resolution ever passed by the Security Council to specifically address the
impact of war and conflict on women, and women's contributions to conflict
resolution and sustainable peace.
Women of the Pacific have played a key role in educating the region on the
terms of Resolution 1325, holding workshops and forums discussing its terms
and the way it can best be implemented when conflict occurs. Since 2000,
Fiji's women's organisations have been actively addressing the terms of the
resolution.
In June 2006, the Regional Workshop on Gender, Conflict, Peace and Security,
held in Nadi, Fiji concluded with a strong statement on women's rights and
women¹s full participation in peace and security in the region. Countries in
the Pacific region, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), regional organisations
and multilateral bodies were urged to acknowledge women¹s rights as human
rights not only in words but by strong, consistent and consolidated action.
A recurring concern was women's and children's health, wellbeing and safety
during conflict, the importance of women's participation in devising and
being a central part of solutions, and effective implementation of Security
Council Resolution 1325. Violence against women and children (girls and
boys) in the region, both in conflict and periods of non-conflict, was high
on the agenda as an issue for continuing action.
It seems apparent that the Pacific Island Forum did not read the Working
Group's resolutions or simply saw them as irrelevant, destined for the
filing cabinet or, worse, the rubbish bin. What other explanation can there
be for such an obvious oversight in appointing not even one woman to the
"Eminent Persons Group".
Before and during the coup, Fijian women of all ages did not stand mute.
Women and young people took a prominent role in seeking to promote a
peaceful resolution. On December 7, 2006, seven young women from the
Emerging Leaders Forum (ELF) issued a statement calling for the rule of law
and adherence to lawful processes.
These members of the ELF - a network of young women graduates of the Fiji
Women's Rights Movement ELF program - pointed out that important matters
were being overlooked, such as the 35 per cent of Fijians living in poverty
and the dire need for education. They highlighted the negative repercussions
of powerful countries in the region imposing sanctions and withdrawing
support from Fiji. Poverty would be exacerbated and education interrupted or
absolutely denied by cancellation of international scholarships, programs
and aid.
Meanwhile, members of the Coalition on Democracy and Peace were lobbying on
issues including the implementation of a long-term strategy. Part of the
proposed long-term strategy was a Presidential Commission of Inquiry to
address Fiji's history of conflicts. The proposal also sought to have the
inquiry address the root causes of these conflicts to look towards positive
avenues and mechanisms for resolution. The Coalition includes women of
standing, intellect and good sense.
In the first week of December, a key group comprising Suliana Siwatibau,
Viri Buadromo, Shamima Ali, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls and Wadan Narsey delivered
the proposal to Government House, the RFMF (Republic of Fiji Military
Forces) and the Prime Minister's Office.
Sadly, the Pacific Islands Forum appears to be unaware of the Coalition on
Democracy and Peace, its members, the issues they have raised and the
proposal.
Yet even the UN Security Council - probably the most masculine division of
the UN - is capable of seeing women in the landscape. Resolution 1325
affirms, among other matters, "the important role of women in the prevention
and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building". It stresses "the
importance of women's equal participation and full involvement in all
efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and the
need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict
prevention and resolution".
Is the Pacific Islands Forum listening? Is it even aware of UN Resolution
1325?
Commenting on such an obvious omission, Dr Shirley Randell, an Australian
who worked for many years in the Pacific and is now working in Africa, says:
I keep being surprised, although perhaps I should not be, that Pacific women
apparently still fail to make the grade for inclusion in the Eminent Persons
Group in the Pacific. Perhaps all pretension should be discarded and these
high level men's privileges should be called exactly what they are: Eminent
Men's Group. What a weakness that at so many levels the Pacific still
refuses to tap into the skills, expertise and wisdom of half its population.
There is, of course, another irony in all this. Australia is a prominent
member of the Pacific Islands Forum - perhaps the most powerful member. In
this country, we have a current prime minister who is determined not to
allow anyone to become an Australian citizen unless, among other matters,
they profess a belief in the "equal rights of men and women". And yes, he
consistently puts 'men' ahead of 'women'.
Surely if we are to assert belief in equality of women and men in this
country, we cannot be a party to establishing "Eminent Persons Groups" that
have no women in them? Back at the beginning of the 20th century, courts
consistently held that women were not persons. Hence, women were disentitled
from participating in privileges such as the right to practice law and
medicine. One might have hoped that here, at the beginning of the 21st
century, we had moved on.
Sadly, it appears not. In the circumstances, do we have a right - through
the Pacific Islands Forum and this "Eminent Persons Group" - to tell Fiji
what to do?
Jocelynne Scutt is an Australian human rights lawyer and writer. Scutt worked with the Australian Institute of Criminology, Australian Law Reform Commission, as associate to a High Court judge (Lionel Murphy), as director of research with the Legal and Constitutional Committee of the Parliament of Victoria, and was Commissioner and Deputy Chairperson of the Victorian Law Reform Commission before going into private practice at the Melbourne Bar. She is admitted to practice in all Australian jurisdictions and is now in practice at the Melbourne and Sydney Bars, commencing in 2004 after completing her 5 year term as Tasmania's first Anti-Discrimination Commissioner (1999-2004). She has written extensively on legal and feminist issues.
