FWCC received 569 calls for domestic violence counselling session

The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre received 569 calls for domestic violence counselling sessions and 1331 calls for repeated counselling sessions from January to April this year.

They recorded 1248 calls from January to April last year from which 63 percent were experiencing domestic violence.

The other issues were rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, child rape, child physical, verbal and emotional abuse and sexual harassement.

The FWCC Suva recorded 274 calls for new domestic violence counselling cases this year and Ba Women's Crisis Centre recorded 490 calls for repeated domestic violence counselling.

There is an increase of counselling sessions provided by the FWCC this year compared to last year.

Ali says statistics show that two in three women experience domestic violence.

The centre believes that domestic violence is an ongoing epidemic that has always existed.

She urges women undergoing domestic violence to seek help by calling Lifeline Fiji on 1543, Empower Pacific at 5626 or the Domestic Violence Helpline at 1560 for appropriate referrals.

Meanwhile the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre will be conducting a candlelight vigil tonight from 6pm to 8pm to remember those women who have lost their lives due to extreme domestic violence.

The FWCC is asking everyone to join them as they will remember them and stand in solidarity with the survivors and victims of domestic violence.

They have highlighted that 52 women in 10 years have died due to domestic violence and most recently two women were allegedly murdered by their partners in May this year.

The candlelight vigil will take place at the FWCC Office, 88 Gordon Street Suva.