Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator Shamima Ali says a looming doom in our country right now is the draft Police Bill which has the potential to further shrink spaces for all women.
Speaking at the solidarity concert to mark a symbolic strike and commemorate International Women’s Day at Ratu Sukuna Park, Shamima Ali says women may think the proposed bill does not concern them as they are only concerned with bread and butter.
Ali says there is already a high rate of police brutality, pending cases, and other kinds of criminal allegations.
She says the police force is great, but there are bad elements.
Ali says we already have huge challenges of misogyny that impedes women's access to justice.
She says this draft bill has the potential to worsen the situation.
Ali has noted that there was over 100% increase in new domestic violence cases reported to the Centre in January this year compared to January last year.
65% of women experience domestic violence in the country.
