FWCC slams social media attacks on rape survivors

The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) has condemned what it describes as a wave of misogynistic and victim-blaming comments on social media following rape charges brought against two prominent soccer players.

FWCC coordinator Shamima Ali said the Centre stood firmly with women who report rape and sexual assault despite facing hostility, intimidation and disbelief.

“We stand with you, we believe you, and we are here to support you. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please call the Free National Domestic Violence Helpline 1560, available 24/7 and free to call from any network. Any woman, girl, or child can reach out to us. You are not to blame for the rape committed,” Ms Ali said.

“Every time you blame a rape survivor, you contribute to a culture that protects perpetrators and silences survivors. Rape is never caused by what a person wears, where they go, who they associate with, or how they choose to live their lives. The responsibility for rape lies solely with the perpetrator.”

Ms Ali said rape was an act of violence using sex on a woman’s body.

“It is a humiliating and degrading act committed on their bodies.”

She said the public reaction was unfolding in a context where reporting sexual violence was already extremely difficult for women and girls in Fiji.

“Research consistently shows that sexual violence is one of the most underreported crimes in Fiji and globally,” she said.

“Survivors face multiple barriers to reporting, including fear of not being believed, fear of social stigma, shame, trauma, and lack of trust in the justice system. Many survivors delay reporting for years or never report at all because of anticipated backlash.”

Ms Ali said evidence gathered by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre showed that most perpetrators in Fiji were not strangers but people known to survivors, often intimate partners or family members.

“In many cases, perpetrators are within the same household, which adds layers of fear, pressure, and silence around disclosure,” she said.

“This is the reality survivors are navigating even before they make a complaint: fear of retaliation, fear of breaking family structures, fear of being disbelieved, and fear of being publicly shamed. Social media rape apology and victim-blaming directly reinforce these barriers.”

The FWCC has urged members of the public to allow the legal process to take its course and refrain from comments that shame or blame survivors.