7th WAMM held in Denarau, Nadi, Fiji Islands

Commonwealth Ministers responsible for women's affairs held their seventh meeting in Nadi, Fiji Islands, between May 30 and June 2. They reviewed past progress and developed a Commonwealth Plan of Action (PoA) for gender equality 2005-2015. Members from 43 countries attended the meeting, which was held in the Pacific for the first time.

There were 92 representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) who met from May 28 and 30 to reach a consensus on civil society comments to the above PoA and to provide a forum for civil society organisations from across the Commonwealth to share good practices and strategies for the implementation of the PoA.

Ministers welcomed the contribution that civil society organisations (CSOs) made to the development of the Plan of Action. The Plan of Action focuses on four critical areas:

¤ Gender, democracy, peace, and conflict;
¤ Gender, human rights and the law;
¤ Gender, poverty eradication and economic empowerment; and
¤ Gender and HIV/AIDS.

Ministers recognised the diversity of women and that they experience gender inequalities in different ways. It was agreed that sex-disaggregated data are urgently required to inform the development of policies and programmes that promote gender equality and monitor progress of this plan.

For the first time ever at a Commonwealth ministerial meeting, ministers provided the opportunity for CSOs to participate in the plenary sessions.

Ministers committed themselves to work in partnership with CSOs and acknowledged the need to strengthen the capacity of all partners. The success of these partnerships for gender equality and in implementing the Plan of Action will be measured by tangible improvements in the lives of women.

While the focus is on women, ministers recognised that the attitudes and behaviours of men and boys will be a key factor in the achievements of positive outcomes for women.

Ministers welcomed the presentations and reports of civil society organisations organised by the Commonwealth Foundation and Commonwealth Associations, including the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the Commonwealth Women's Network, and the Commonwealth Business Women's Network, who met in parallel sessions.

Ministers agreed to submit a message to the next Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) in Malta in 2005.

Doris Bingley, hon. general secretary of the National Council of Women, was one of the Civil Society speakers at the plenary.