Working together is an efficient and empowering way of addressing issues of gender based violence.

The comments by the Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation were made during the official opening of the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children Coordination and Planning Meeting yesterday.

Veena Bhatnagar said the meeting would provide a platform and the way forward in addressing gender based violence in Fiji.

“If this consultation is serious about its planning to address the issue of gender based violence, it must examine those attitudes and it must look critically at the social norms which entrenches those attitudes and institutionalises them into a whole way of life,” Ms Bhatnagar said.

“In order to make visible change, positive change, we all must learn to view the world through a social capital lens,” she said.

“We need to work cohesively to engage in public discourse about what are the common good, building alliances which work together to identify issues and agree on ways of introducing solutions towards change and justice.

“Violence against women and girls is a widespread and systematic violation of fundamental human rights and an enduring form of gender based discrimination.”

Ms Bhatnagar said the battle against domestic violence in Fiji required a coordinated effort and partnership with various government ministries/departments, non-government organisations and communityies in particular in addressing the issue of violence against women and children through public awareness and training.

To make changes in Fiji, Ms Bhatnagar said it would involve strengthening family values and norms, positive parenting, premarital counselling, goodwill ambassadorship programme and nurturing discipline in all our children.

“This all can be done and needs all of us to work in solidarity to battle domestic violence,” she said.

“The Fijian Government has given the boldest political mandate that it does not tolerate domestic violence in our nation. It is that will that drives us to battle domestic violence now and in the future.”

The three-day meeting at the Pearl Resort in Pacific Harbour ends tomorrow.

Edited by Percy Kean

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