Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre says it is happy with the new law on de facto relationship.

The Succession Probate and MPs Administration Amendment Bill 2018 was passed by Parliament on Thursday night.

The FWCC’s co-ordinator, Shamima Ali, said when the family law Bill was being ‘drafted’, the FWCC had made submissions for the de facto relationship to be recognised.

“One of our submissions was the de facto relationship to be recognised.

“It is about a man who has lived with a woman for a number of years as husband and wife, had children and they had contributed to their progress and leave her with nothing and go away with somebody else.

“I believe in progress of women’s rights, this is a great step forward for women to ensure that they get what they are entitled to,” Ms Ali said.

Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji national president Sarju Prasad said: “I am a strong proponent of the institution of marriage.

“Because de facto relationship has been in practice for many years, under the old law there was no protection of the partner.

“I do not oppose the Bill but there are a lot of moral values which are to be taken into account as well,” Mr Prasad said.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the Bill was not new as there were already laws that existed in the Family Law Act that recognised de facto relationships.

He said already there was a provision in Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) that recognised de-facto relationships. He said the amendment Bill was the only law that had to do with marriage and was only applicable in instances where there was no will.

“Not everybody writes a will, sometimes people forget,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

Edited by Nemani Delaibatiki

Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj