Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator Shamima Ali says four women lost their lives to domestic violence this year and many continue to suffer in silence and live in a controlled and abusive environment.
In her Christmas message, Ali says for many of us the festive season is a time for reflection, a time to take stock and plan for the coming year.
She adds for many women and children what should be a time of happiness, celebration and family time, is in reality the continuation or intensification of violence, threats and intimidation.
Ali also says just because it is the festive season, it doesn’t mean that verbal, physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse goes away.
She adds it has always been noticed that cases of violence against women and domestic violence spike during the holiday period from before Christmas to after New Year.
Ali says lets change the conversations in our homes, communities and workplaces to end violence against women and girls, not only for this festive season, but forever.
Ali says this year, we faced one of the biggest crisis the world has ever seen – COVID-19 which has left many without jobs and many of these were women.
She adds many people have also lost their homes and belongings because of TC Yasa and the most vulnerable are women and girls with disabilities, widows, single mothers and members of the LGBTI community.
Ali says this festive season, lets stand in solidarity with these people, lets lend a supporting hand and let’s be compassionate and caring.
