Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Hon. Alipate Nagata
Official Address
Wednesday, 3rd November,2021,2:30pm

• Respected Guests;
• Facilitators;
• Participants;
• Ladies and Gentlemen;

Bula Vinaka to you all,

It is an honour to be here this afternoon and I must acknowledge the commitment shown by you the participants in attending this training.

I also acknowledge and thank the respective facilitators in delivering the respective sessions and assisting the ministry in achieving its
intended vision which is “Building values that lead to success.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, this training was the result of various interactions with your communities and the Training Needs Analysis which identified the interests amongst youth in undertaking this Empowerment training on

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
I am told that a total of 35 participants took part in the three-day training. In Fiji today, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has been carrying out similar trainings all over the country for our young people. In doing so, we hope to empower you to make sound and well- informed decisions in life.
Ladies and Gentlemen, every year, a good number of adolescent girls become mothers, and complications from pregnancy are the leading cause of death worldwide among girls 15 to 19 years-old.
Investing in young people’s education, health and employment will ensure better prospects for your own lives and for Fiji’s development. On the other hand, if we fail to make these

investments now, we will further entrench poverty and ignorance for generations to come.
Let’s just look at one of the goals, example to improve maternal health. We know that girls aged 15 to 19 are twice as likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth as women in their 20s. And we also know that the two most effective ways to prevent teenage pregnancy are to keep girls in school, and to provide them with sexual and reproductive health education and services.
Young people have a fundamental human right to health, including sexual and reproductive health, and this can only be fulfilled through quality health services, including information and services for family planning.
Ladies and gentlemen, another important area is age appropriate sexuality education, which is

often overlooked, but remains an important issue for young people. Education about sexual and reproductive health improves knowledge, exposes harmful myths and taboos, and minimizes risky behaviours.
Studies show that, in fact, sexuality education increases safe and responsible behavior. The Ministry of Youth and Sports is partnering with UNFPA to conduct training and workshops on Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
To ensure that development policies work for everyone, we must use human rights as our foundation. We must promote and protect the human rights of all young people, especially the most vulnerable ones. Fiji’s 2013 constitution under chapter 2 – Bill of Rights clearly

articulates the various rights. I encourage you all to read it.
To all you young women and men here, while I am inspired by your participation, energy and enthusiasm I also want to encourage you to respect each other. Our existence in society is based on values and foundation of mutual trust and common interests as citizens of Fiji. We should respect others views even if it’s different from yours, but remain focus on the bigger agendas that matters to us as a nation.
Think holistically and keep an open mind but speak out for all your sisters and brothers who are vulnerable, and who are not fully empowered to speak for themselves.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Government is committed to an inclusive policy for all Fijians

regardless of your ethnicity, your social background, your status in the community, your culture or your religious beliefs.
Our target is to reach out to all Fijians and no matter how isolated you may be.
So, let this be your pathway to success and let it be the dream that will take you places.
As youth of Vatukoula, I urge you all to set your priorities straight and strive for the best as you will undoubtedly receive its due rewards.
You should aspire for greater things and I would like to urge you to work hard.

Ladies and Gentlemen, with these few words, I wish you all the success in the future and may this training be the start of bigger and better things to come for you.

I congratulate you all on your achievement and wish you a Happy Diwali.

Vinaka Vakalevu and thank you.