Minister Akbar: This is a much needed platform to report domestic violence

The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation will establish the Domestic Violence Helpline this year.

The helpline will be established through the budget allocation of $170,000 to the ministry.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar said: “This is a much needed platform to enable women to easily report cases of domestic violence.”

Ms Akbar said the helpline would be an important platform to provide counselling services to women who were victims and survivors of domestic violence.

“We want to start reaching some agreements on the responses needed,” Ms Akbar said.

She said the initiative emphasised Government’s commitment to support the victims of gender-based violence.

“The setting of a dedicated helpline will act as an effective referral mechanism. We want to work out what we need to make the 24-hour Domestic Violence Helpline provide a high quality service.”

It will be similar to the National Child Helpline.

“This will be the first time in our nation’s history for a national 24-hour toll-free line on Domestic Violence Helpline to be established,” she said.

Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre will also contribute towards the development of the helpline.

Edited by Maikeli Seru

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