Oxfam is calling on New Zealanders to wear a blue ribbon in solidarity with their neighbours in Fiji where civil society groups are calling on all to show their support for peace and democracy by wearing a Fiji blue ribbon.
Oxfam is calling on New Zealanders to wear a blue ribbon in solidarity with their neighbours in Fiji where civil society groups are calling on all to show their support for peace and democracy by wearing a Fiji blue ribbon.
"The Blue Ribbon" was first used by the women's peace vigil coordinated by members of the National Council of Women Fiji (NCWFiji) in 2000, and has continued to be a symbol to further strengthen women's active participation in decision making on matters relating to peace and security, within a women's human rights framework, including advancing the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Women, Peace and Security, 2000).
For the women who came together in 2000, the Fiji blue ribbon (from the colour of our flag) continues to represent a unified stand for the promotion of peace, reconciliation and unity, based on the principles of human rights, democracy and the upholding of the 1997 Constitution.
Now in 2006, the NGO Coalition on Human Rights (NGOCHR) has revived the blue ribbon campaign for peace and democracy. The blue ribbon has also been adopted by the broad membership of concerned citizens and NGOs who are part of the Coalition for Democracy and Peace, chaired by Suliana Siwatibau.
"We call on Fiji's citizens to wear a blue ribbon everyday, as a symbol of their support for peace, democracy, the rule of law and active non-violence," said campaign founding member Sharon Bhagwan Rolls.
Active non-violence is the acceptance that through ongoing dialogue and respect, we can find solutions to conflict. It is about dealing non-violently with other parties when conflicts arise, and resisting violent responses, to bring about sustainable long-term resolution.
"The blue ribbon is a way for every Fiji Islander to show their belief in the principles of our constitution – it's not about politics," Bhagwan Rolls said.
The Coalition for Democracy and Peace is a non-political initiative, where citizens and NGOs have come together to offer peaceful options in this time of crisis. They are lobbying for a Presidential Commission of Truth, Justice and Resolution under the Commission of Inquiry Act, as a constitutional and legal strategy towards a long-term and inclusive resolution to Fiji's history of conflict.