FWCC ignites nationwide activism from Beqa Island

The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) has launched its 16 Days of Activism against Violence against Women campaign with a powerful call to end impunity and build community resilience.

Led by coordinator Shamima Ali, the campaign began this week with an intensive two-week training on Beqa Island, drawing 60 women from Tikina Sawau to sessions on gender, human rights, legal literacy, and technology-facilitated violence.

Ms Ali, a strong advocate for women’s rights in the Pacific, said the campaign is part of FWCC’s broader national strategy to empower communities and eliminate violence against women and girls.

The Beqa training is one of many held across Fiji, with FWCC responding to direct requests from communities.

Ms Ali praised the Rewa Provincial Office for its proactive stance on gender equality, noting that the province’s Sustainable Development Plan aligns closely with FWCC’s mission. 

“It is encouraging to see that the Rewa Province sees gender equality as a necessary component of its overall development. We clearly see that FWCC's work aligns with the broader development goals of the Rewa Province, which has its own Sustainable Development Plan focused on poverty and social development,” Ms Ali said.

Since 2023, FWCC has conducted six major awareness sessions in Rewa, engaging both women and men. In 2025 alone, over 100 men completed the male advocacy for Women’s Human Rights programme, which challenges participants to reflect on their roles in promoting equality and ending violence.

“This work involves engaging men in efforts to eliminate violence against women from a rights-based approach. A key element is for these men to first change their own behavior and thinking towards women and girls before they can influence other men,” said Ms Ali.

FWCC has also established Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) committees at the village level, providing survivors with access to counselling, medical care, and legal support.

Founded in 1984, FWCC has long championed violence against women as a human rights issue. Its community education programmes have reached government agencies, police, and corporate entities, and are now aligned with the 2023 National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.

Ms Ali credited FWCC’s development partners, Australia and New Zealand, for their sustained support. Australia began funding FWCC in 1990 through AIDAB (now DFAT), while New Zealand’s MFAT has provided direct support since 2000.