Violence against women is serious and has devastating effects on the lives of women, children and families, and more than often ends in fatality.

Sexual and gender-based violence is the most extreme form of the global and systemic inequality experienced by women and girls.

It knows no geographic, socio-economic or cultural boundaries. Violence against women and girls is among the most universal and pervasive human rights violations, affecting at least a billion women across the globe.

Status of Violence against Women in Fiji:

It is a matter of shame and disgrace that violence against women is reported in such high numbers in Fiji and our action is well overdue to combat this life threatening problem.

It has been established that gender based violence is not only a social issue but is also a development issue.  Domestic violence costs our nation $8.3 billion in expenses annually: a combination of higher medical costs ($5.8 billion) and lost productivity ($2.5 billion). Addressing this issue could save thousands of lives and billions of dollars.

Eliminate Violence against Women

It may come as a shock, but Fiji’s reported cases of domestic violence including physical, sexual and emotional violence have been ranked fourth highest in comparison to other countries assessed using the same survey method.

The thing to importantly note here is this; we are talking about reported cases. There must be hundreds of cases of violence against women and girls that may be still unreported as the victims continue to suffer in silence.

We do know that sometimes women survivors choose to remain silent because they fear stigmatisation and shame within their homes and communities.

Their claims are often dismissed, not only by their families but also by agents who should really be the ones acting on their reports.

They feel they have no one to turn to who will respect their dignity. But here is my stand; we must end this silence.

We know that in some instances women are violent against men but seldom are these isolated instances reflective of the broader representation of gender based violence. The ferocity, frequency and consistency of men’s violence against women are statistically apparent.

For every individual to enjoy their human rights, violence must end; inequality must end.

Government has a National Ending Violence against Women (EVAW) taskforce for all stakeholders addressing the issue of violence against women, co-ordinated by the Ministry for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation.

We now have in place the first ever toll free helpline #1560 for victims of violence, funded by the Government and operated by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Center to get urgent assistance to victims of violence.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj