SUVA, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Pacific feminists have been encouraged to stay united to fight for gender equality at the second Pacific feminist forum which kicked off Monday in Fiji.

Fiji's Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa said at the forum that it is important that Pacific feminists continue to engage in a collective space, jointly identify the commonalities of identified issues, and present strong, collective Pacific feminist positions in decision-making forums at a regional and global level.

She said that the challenges for Pacific feminists include the geographical differences and socio-economic realities of 22 developing island nations.

"Pacific feminism faces a unique hardship of continuous engagement and solidified efforts as access to resources are scarce, with islands so distant, making physical solidarity difficult, but also an isolation of feminist works separated by the world's largest ocean. Therefore, the Pacific feminist movement is one going against the current, as advocates and activists forge through the vast Pacific territory to consolidate works and push a Pacific development agenda to the forefront of global progress plans," she said.

The minister encouraged Pacific feminists to stay strong in sisterhood and stay united in comradery because the battle they are fighting is extremely important.

The three-day forum has been held in the Pacific Harbour, a town about 50 kilometers from the Fijian capital of Suva, with the participation of 150 women from across the Pacific region.

It will reflect key issues that are critical to gender equality and women's rights, and promote opportunities for collaboration to achieve positive change for all women and girls in regional communities. Enditem

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