76 percent of women and girls get raped by their blood relatives – FWCC

Shocking statistics have been revealed by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre as 96 percent of the perpetrators of rape are known to the survivors of which 76 percent are blood relatives.

While speaking at the reopening of the Rakiraki Women's Crisis Centre, FWCC Coordinator Shamima Ali says according to their survey 64 percent of women in the country suffer from domestic violence in their own homes from their partners and people who are supposed to love them so much.

Ali says this is shocking and should not be happening.

She says the Rakiraki Women's Crisis Center was opened in 2011, however, it was closed down in December last year due to staff and management issues.

The Coordinator says from December last year to July this year, the Nadi and Ba Crisis Centers have dealt with 120 cases of domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault in the Ra province.

Ali also highlighted that since the Rakiraki Women's Crisis Centre opened in July 2011, it has been seeing and helping an average of 112 women and children a year.

She says the reopening of the crisis center will once again offer services to women, girls and children in this country.

The coordinator further says that there will be 3 counselors and educators based that the Rakiraki center, however, applications are also open for others.

Ali says they are working together with the government's national action plan, the Ministry for Women and Children, and the United Nations Women to bring an end to all this domestic violence and discrimination.

She also acknowledged the Government, non-governmental organisations, stakeholders and individuals for their support and help as well as the New Zealand government for their continuous support.