𝗥𝗙𝗠𝗙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆

The service women of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces today started their two-days International Women’s Day (IWD) programme at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua. The event will include lectures by guest speakers, a panel discussion focused on mapping the way forward for women in the RFMF, sports, visitation and will conclude with a dinner.

While officiating the event at the Tuvasu Hall, the Commander Land Force (CLF) Brigadier-General (Brig-Gen) Covunisaqa said that the RFMF has evolved in terms of women’s participation in every aspect. He said that each woman played a critical role not only in the RFMF but also as cornerstones of each family they belong too.

Speaking as the first guest speaker and as a pioneer service woman in the RFMF, Officers Training School Commandant Colonel Silipa Vananalagi shared her experience in the RFMF and said that it was about time for women to work together and positively build their own character.

“We did things that we did not experience in life, we were pushed to the extreme we sweated, we crawled we cried. . . We fought against many brick walls, but we picked up the pieces and continued to be better. We wanted to be recognized, to be appreciated, we wanted to be seen as a woman, and we never gave up,” Col Vananalagi said.

“We are still the silent minority, and we will remain so if we do not hold hands together to voice our concerns. . . Being in the RFMF is about bravery, it is about commitments, it is about standards, and it is about passion. . .we must take on the challenges and consider its positive benefits that will build our character to be resilient in all our circumstances.”

Col Vananalagi thanked the organizing committee for running the event and also paid tribute to those service women that have passed.

The IWD programme will continue tomorrow with sports and will conclude with a dinner to round off the 2023 IWD celebration in the RFMF.