60 percent of women suffer from some form of violence in Fiji

Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection Lynda Tubuya says she honours the memory of those they have lost and pays tribute to the survivors who have displayed incredible strength in the face of unimaginable hardships.

She says 60% of Fijian women have endured some form of violence during their lifetimes, according to statistics, and the national domestic violence helpline (1560) and child helpline (1325) would operate seamlessly to provide support.

Tubuya conveyed her heartfelt gratitude to the women's rights organizations that have made an unwavering commitment to this cause and the advancement of gender equality and women’s rights.

She says it is a stark reality that Fiji faces one of the highest rates of violence against women and girls in the world, and the issue extends far beyond isolated incidents as it is a deeply ingrained problem within our society.

The Minister says these statistics merely hint at the deep-reaching impact on the lives of our women and girls, the shattered dreams and untapped potential, and the wider consequences for their families, communities, and our beloved Fiji.

She says any form of gender-based violence, including domestic violence, is not only a violation of human rights but also a criminal offence here in Fiji, they will not accept it and will not allow it to go unpunished.

She adds in June this year, the government marked a significant milestone by launching the Fiji National Action Plan to prevent violence against all women and girls (2023-2028).

Tabuya says this evidence-based plan, second in the world, is designed to be transformative and inclusive, involving the entire population and the whole of government in our efforts to stop violence before it starts.

She says in the heart of the Fiji NAP lies the recognition that gender inequality and the dominance of men over women, often termed patriarchy, serve as the underlying causes of violence.

She adds it beckons us to unite and take collective action in the pursuit of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

This can be achieved through public education, and shifting gender. discriminatory norms, nurturing respectful relationships, supporting survivors, establishing legal safeguards, and cultivating a society built on fairness, equality, and justice.

Tubuya further outlined the plans of the Ministry, stating that within the next 12-18 months starting from 2024, their primary focus is on priority actions across key settings such as education, sports, media, traditional, faith, and informal.

She says in sports, they will prioritize the development of gender-responsive codes of conduct for 10 sports in collaboration with relevant stakeholders along with a community club institute working with boys and players on respectful relationships.

She also says in the field of education their primary focus will be on shifting gender-discriminatory social norms through the revision or development of curricula.

The Minister adds within the faith and traditional settings, they will commence high-level conversations with leaders, organizations, and communities, particularly focusing on promoting non-violent, respectful relationships and fostering safety, respect, and equality.

In the media sphere, they will create a national communication strategy and get ready to launch a nationwide social marketing campaign in various settings, encompassing online safety.

They will also collaborate with the Fiji Bureau of Statistics to conduct the first Fiji National Community Attitude Survey (NCAS) as a baseline for tracking the effectiveness of the Fiji NAP intervention over the next 5 years. The Minister says the data will also inform our national social marketing campaigns across the key settings and in the online space. Tabuya further stresses that in today's digital age, they cannot overlook the pressing matter of online gender-based violence and technology-assisted sexual harassment. She says committing to the path of social transformation is a monumental endeavour, not for the faint of heart.

Tabuya says as your Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, as well as a woman, a female leader, and a mother, I embrace this challenge with unwavering dedication.

She says she commits to being a steadfast advocate, raising her voice at the Cabinet table, within the halls of parliament, in my faith community, and wherever she treads.