Asia-Pacific

Women in Fiji highly marginalized - ADB

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-10-11 17:24

WELLINGTON - An Asian Development Bank (ADB) report found that women are the most marginalized segment of Fiji' s population, a Suva-based newspaper the Daily Post reported Wednesday.

The ADB'S Fiji Country Assessment Strategy launched in Suva said Fiji women are at a higher risk of poverty and destitution, both of which are associated with labor discrimination, and increasing divorce and separation rates, the report said.

ADB's regional director Sirpa Jarvenpaa said most Fijian women lack inheritance rights to land, land rents and other major assets.

In terms of commerce in the rural areas, Jarvenpaa said most women are unable to compete with cheap imported imitations although they are the major subsistence producers and small scale food and handicraft marketers.

She said twice the number of women compared with men suffer from nutrition-related diseases, which are associated with poor diets and poverty.

Jarvenpaa said much greater effort is needed to address food security and public health and promote the supply and consumption of locally grown food.