57 deaths of women over the last 12 years from domestic violence

With domestic violence continuing to be a concern for the country, the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre says 57 women have passed away in the last 12 years due to domestic violence.

While speaking on Pacific Beat, FWCC Coordinator Shamima Ali says these are actual deaths of people and more needs to be done.

She is calling on all organisations, including the Government, to come on board in trying to create more awareness on the issue of domestic violence.

Ali says we have to stop blaming culture and use culture and religion to ensure that women stay out of these circumstances.

She adds society must come together and condemn this thoroughly.

The FWCC Coordinator says we have to have better law enforcement agencies where police step up and implement the laws.

She says we have good laws but asks if it's being implemented the way they should.

Ali says breaching the Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) has been their concern over and over again.

She adds they will soon embark on conducting their second comparative study of the breaches of DVRO, but now, more women have the courage to come out to report.