70% of domestic violence cases occur in iTaukei families and 74% are in Christian families - Tabuya

Ten communities in the province of Tailevu have made a promise to protect women, girls and children from violence after they signed their commitment yesterday at Qelekuro Village.

Awareness sessions have already been conducted in these villages by the staff of Medical Services Pacific with plans of continuous visits to the Village on information raising.

The 10 communities are Nabulini Village, Manu Village, Dakuivuna Village, Sawakasa Village, Qelekuro Village, Matacaucau Village, Naoto Village, Nailawaga Village, Naigani Island and Vunivomo Village.

While launching the program, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya says the government has failed in previous years in looking after the welfare of women, girls and children because the statistics are still the same from previous years.

She says 64 percent of women in Fiji suffer from abuse, while 84 percent are abuse committed to children.

Tabuya says most of these domestic violence cases occur in an iTaukei family comprising of 70 percent while 72 percent happens in a Christian family.

The Minister is pleading to the 10 communities to keep their promises and commitments so a safer environment is established for our women, girls and children.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Sakeo Raikaci stressed that violence against women, girls and children should stop.

He says he has been told that these areas have a high number of violence against women, girls and children and the commitment shown by the villagers is amazing.

DPC Raikaci says he will be ashamed if after this launch, the first case of violence against women, girls and children is from this Tailevu area.

He pleads with the leaders of the 10 communities to commit to their promises.

Medical Services Pacific Director Ashna Shaleen says as the Minister said, engaging men and boys as allies in this fight is crucial.

She says the program launched in Qelekuro is quite unique and it would be a pilot for MSP on how they sensitize the communities, especially aimed at committing and preventing violence against women and girls.