Fiji
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Estimated Population839 324
Population Growth Rate0.636% (2008)
Population Density46 people per square km

 Source: UNFPA[i]


[i] United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2009). Asia and the Pacific at a Glance. New York, USA: UNFPA
Fiji has participated in and endorsed International Conferences and Reservations on the International Conference on Population & Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA). These are: ICPD (1994)[i], Beijing Platform for Action (1995)[ii], Con and Millennium Development Goals (MDG) (2000)[iii].
Fiji records an MMR of 35.3 per 100 000 live births[iv] and a contraceptive prevalence rate of 44% (modern methods).[v] 
Abortion is a criminal offence in most of the region with penalties ranging from two years to life imprisonment for women who are convicted or those who perform the procedure. Abortion is allowed under certain conditions such as when continiuing with the pregnancy would pose a threat to the woman’s life.[vi]  
Young people get information about sex from their peers. For male adolescents, the information comes in the form of pornographic material which misinforms them about a lot of things to do with sex and STIs. According to some women’s rights activists, this also adds to the way they engage with women, perpetrating violence against women. Young women are especially vulnerable because they do not get information, are not aware of themselves and their bodies, and are disempowered so they not really able to negotiate safe sex or whether they want to have sex.[vii] 
Studies show 30 – 70% of women experience domestic violence, and factors such as the low status of women, cultural/religious beliefs and inadequate laws all add to the challenge of eliminating violence against women and girls.[viii]
The conflict situation and civil and political unrest are another challenge in Fiji. Fiji has a history of military coups. This not only exacerbates domestic violence and sexual assaults but in times of civil unrest acts of violence against women often go unreported.[ix]
Most SRHR work in Fiji currently focuses on the issues of HIV/AIDs & STI awareness and prevention as well as adolescent reproductive health.

[i] House, W.J. (1999). ICPD Goals and Thresholds: How Well Have the Pacific Island Countries Performed?. Retrieved June 2, 2010, from United Nations Web site: http://www.un.org/popin/regional/asiapac/fiji/disc/disc21.htm   
[ii] Division for the Advancement of Women (Department of Economic and Social Affairs). (1995). Retrieved June 3, 2010, from http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/pdf/BDPfA%20E.pdf
[iii] United Nations Development Programme Millennium Development Goals. Retrieved June 3, 2010, from http://www.undp.org/mdg  
[iv] United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2009). Asia and the Pacific at a Glance. New York, USA: UNFPA
[v] United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2009). Asia and the Pacific at a Glance. New York, USA: UNFPA
[vi] Khan, N. (2009). SRHR in the Pacific areas for NGO engagement. [Powerpoint presentation] Presented at The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
[vii] Khan, N. (2009). SRHR in the Pacific areas for NGO engagement. [Powerpoint presentation] Presented at The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
[viii] Khan, N. (2009). SRHR in the Pacific areas for NGO engagement. [Powerpoint presentation] Presented at The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
[ix] Khan, N. (2009). SRHR in the Pacific areas for NGO engagement. [Powerpoint presentation] Presented at The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Last Updated on Thursday, 03 June 2010 15:27