Media Release
Australia’s Global Ambassador for Women and Girls Supports
Empowerment of Women in the Pacific
9 November 2012
Australia’s Global Ambassador for Women and Girls, Ms Penny Williams, will be in
Fiji next week to promote the empowerment of women in the Pacific.
Ms Williams will be Chief Guest at two important events in Fiji during her visit.
On Monday, she will be in Nadi to officially open the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centreorganised Pacific Network Against Violence Against Women, and on Wednesday she
will open the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO) – organized
Women in Business Conference in Nadi.
This will be the Ambassador’s second visit to Fiji since being appointed Australia’s
Global Ambassador for Women and Girls in September last year.
Speaking ahead of her arrival in Fiji, Ambassador Williams said it was important that
all countries supported women to fully participate in their own futures, as well as the
future of the region.
“I am very pleased to be back in Fiji, for the second time this year” she said.
“My visit comes at a very exciting time for women’s development in the Pacific.”
“Australia’s Prime Minister, Julia Gillard recently announced, a A$320 million
initiative ‘Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development’. The initiative, to be
delivered across the Pacific region over 10 years, will help improve the political,
economic and social opportunities of Pacific women.”
“Sustainable development will only be possible when women can participate safely,
as equals, in political, economic and social opportunities, to increase family incomes,
build assets, and reduce poverty,” said Ms Williams.
Ms Williams arrives in Fiji this weekend.
Following the opening of the Conference on Monday, she will visit the Nadi
Women’s Crisis Centre then call on the Director of the Lautoka-based Foundation for
Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development (FRIEND), Ms Sashi Kiran, and the
FRIEND community in Lautoka.
On Tuesday Ambassador Williams will tour the Ramakrishna Mission Fiji’s
Charitable Medical Centre in Nadi. Later that evening she will celebrate Diwali at the
Nadi Women’s Crisis Centre.
For clarifications or further information contact: The Public Affairs Section, Australian High
Commission, Suva. Tel: (679)3382211 – Ext 246 Fax: (679) 3382065
She will also meet with the Suva-based Regional Programme Director of the UN
Women’s Pacific Office, Ms Elzira Sagynbaeva, during her time in Fiji.
As Australia’s Global Ambassador for Women and Girls, Ms Williams is responsible
for high-level advocacy to promote Australian Government policies and activity
regarding gender equality and the social, political and economic empowerment of
women and girls, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
**ENDS**
Note to Editors: For further information on Ambassador Williams, please visit
http://www.dfat.gov.au/homs/wg.html
For clarifications or further information contact: The Public Affairs Section, Australian High
Commission, Suva. Tel: (679)3382211 – Ext 246 Fax: (679) 3382065