Between August, 2020 to June, 2021 the domestic violence helpline received 2933 calls, 22 per cent of which were from male callers.

Speaking in Parliament, Minister for Women, Rosy Akbar, said the increase in domestic violence reporting over the years is a perfect indicator that programmes have a good impact in encouraging victims and bystanders to break the silence and seek justice.

Of the total calls received;

• 54% were from the Central Division,
• 39% from the Western Division,
• 5% from the Northern Division,
• 1% from the Eastern Division, and
• 1% from unknown location.

Of the total calls received, 38 per cent were survivors and 62 per cent were bystanders.

Ms Akbar said there was an increase in domestic violence cases post-COVID lockdowns from 149 in August, 2020 to 817 calls in May, 2021.

Calls per year;

• 2017 – 952 calls,
• 2018-2019 – 927 calls, and
• 2019-2020 – 2332 calls.

“To move forward what is needed is the understanding that addressing violence against women and girls requires a holistic approach when seeking to transform social norms,” Ms Akbar said.

“It is necessary to work at both, individual and collective levels addressing values, believes, attitudes, behaviours and practices an integrated way.

“It is with this that the Ministry will continue to work with our development partners, our NGOs, government ministries to develop and use relevant monitoring and evaluation framework to capture the impact of our evaluation programmes to make the change needed in Fiji and to make visible, the end of violence against women. We say it is everyone’s responsibilities, everyone’s business.”

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