Pacific feminists have been urged to stay strong in the face of "appalling attacks" on human rights defenders.
Participants at 2nd Pacific Feminist Forum in Fiji, May 2019 Photo: Supplied
At a gathering in Fiji this week they reaffirmed their commitments towards gender equality, human rights and justice.
More than 150 human rights defenders and activists attended the Second Pacific Feminist Forum to build on their Charter for Change produced at the last forum three years ago.
Keynote speaker Joey Joleen Mataele urged those gathered about the importance of strengthening solidarity, resistance and revolution, in the face of rising attacks.
"It is appalling and it is scary. We need to embrace the Pacific that we live in, a Pacific that is full of love, and we must keep the spotlight and protection for all our defenders."
Joey Joleen Mataele likened the action needed to the traditional craft of weaving.
"We need to work together, putting together those pandanus leaves, so we can form a mat that we can sit together on and talk the same language, talk the same voice ... and walk the talk together."
"Our commonality is - we are the Pacific.
"When we do things we do things with love, with do things with passion, we do things because we belong to a family, we belong to a community."
The Pacific Feminist Forum was first held in 2016 and produced the Pacific Feminist Charter for Change which set out principles for the group's work.
Joey Jolene Mataele at the 2nd Pacific Feminist Forum in Fiji, May 2019 Photo: Supplied
