DIVA for Equality concerned about the treatment of LGBTQI people by some police officers

Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality co-founder and political advisor Noelene Nabulivou has raised concerns about the treatment of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex people by some police officers.

Nabulivou says if a LGBTQI person is charged, the police officers must treat the person equally just like anyone else.

DIVA’s 2018 research report titled “Unjust, Unequal, Unstoppable: Fiji Lesbians, Bisexual women, Transmen and Gender Non-Conforming People tipping the scales toward justice” revealed that 76.24% of the respondents said they do not feel safe when going to the police.

She says if three quarters of the people surveyed are feeling unsafe going to the police, everyone should be concerned.

The report also stated that 11.49% of the Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender women and Gender Non-Conforming respondents did go to the police while 30 respondents said they were beaten by the police because of their Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and Sex Characteristics.

Nabulivou says there are other organizations such as Rainbow Pride Foundation and Haus of Khameleon, that provide help and support to people so that they do not feel isolated.

DIVA for Equality gave a copy of the detailed “Unjust, Unequal Unstoppable” report to the Acting Police Commissioner, Rusiate Tudravu during an initial preliminary meeting with other Civil Society Organizations. Tudravu has assured DIVA that the concerns in the report will be looked into.

Some members of the LGBTQI community also continue to be shunned by family members.

Eroni Dina who is one of the board directors of Rainbow Pride Foundation says family members were not very supportive when Dina came out and said he is gay.

Dina was not acknowledged and was seen as a person invading space and was ignored up until Dina made a name for himself.

The Foundation is planning to provide resources and training between 2020 and 2023 to communities, parents and families to support their LGBTQI children and young people in their communities.

A baseline analysis will also be conducted on the economic status, participation and opportunities of LGBTQI people in Fiji.

You can contact RPF on rainbowpridefiji@gmail.com and DIVA for Equality on divafiji@gmail.com for help or support.