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By: Hamidan Bibi, Executive Member - WiFN-Fiji

On the 9th of May 2017, Women in Fisheries Network – Fiji  was invited as panelist to share issues relating to the media and communication industry, to help provide journalists with a better understanding of how to report on such aspect as development and sustainability dimensions; as well as to better understand regionalism and key regional issues, including SDGs.

According to a concept note prepared by the organisers (SPREP, SPC, UNDP, PIFS), broadly, Pacific Regionalism is:

“The expression of a common sense of identity and purpose, leader progressively to the sharing of institutions, resources, and markets, with the purpose of complementing national efforts, overcoming common constraints, and enhancing sustainable and inclusive development within Pacific countries and territories and for the Pacific region as a whole.”

This is supported by the Pacific Leaders’ vision for the region which “is for a region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, so that all Pacific people can lead free, healthy and productive lives”.

Under the Framework for Pacific Regionalism, Pacific Leaders have identified fisheries, climate change and resilient development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), West Papua (Papua), economic development, and persons with disabilities as current priorities.

 

“The forum was an opportunity to share issues relating to women in fisheries to regional journalist and how they could increase their efforts in highlighting issues or concerns by the women fishers, national, regional and international fisheries-related policies and SDGs using various media channels and organisation they represented.” Hamidan Bibi

Journalist were also able to interview presenters and do ‘live’ stories as part of their training in being able to better understand development issues and report on it.  It is hoped that the media would be able to increase its efforts in reporting women in fisheries related issues, including stories of change.