FWCC warns that justice system is failing women, allowing violence to go unpunished

The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre says Fiji’s justice system is failing women and girls, allowing widespread impunity for perpetrators of violence, largely due to systemic weaknesses in policing.

The FWCC is calling for urgent and united action to end the persistent impunity surrounding violence against women and girls in Fiji, saying that survivors continue to face a justice system that does not work for them.

Coordinator Shamima Ali says that for more than 40 years, invisibility and silence have followed most cases of sexual violence in the country.

She says it is beyond dispute that the justice system, especially because of weaknesses in policing, is not working for survivors and victims of violence against women and girls.

As part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and Girls, FWCC is focusing on the theme “Violence Against Women and Girls: Ending Impunity.”

The Centre says the continued failure to hold perpetrators accountable remains one of the greatest barriers to justice for women and girls in Fiji.

They say that despite the high prevalence of violence, survivors often do not receive justice while perpetrators are too often granted impunity.

FWCC says structural inequality and embedded patriarchal norms mean that many survivors face common barriers when attempting to access justice.

These include victim-blaming, a justice system that re-traumatises survivors, powerful individuals and institutions that shield perpetrators, misogynistic beliefs, lack of accessible accountability mechanisms, stigma, shame, and traditional or religious systems that minimise or negotiate violence.

The Centre warns that when perpetrators are not held accountable, impunity intensifies victims’ powerlessness and sends a message that male violence against women is acceptable.

Ali says that even with legal frameworks, a national action plan, and increasing awareness, many survivors still face major structural and societal obstacles.

She says impunity persists because of policing and prosecutorial weaknesses, social norms that silence survivors, limited support for services like FWCC, and poor implementation of service delivery protocols.

According to FWCC, reducing impunity requires more than laws, it needs investment in survivor-centred services, survivor-centred policing, cultural change, and sustained political will backed by clear targets and resources.

Ali says societal attitudes continue to deflect blame from perpetrators, with many people still blaming alcohol, the victim’s clothing, or the victims themselves instead of the root cause, which is patriarchy.

FWCC also raised concern about cases where police officers are perpetrators, saying this deeply undermines public trust and discourages survivors from seeking help.

Ali says survivors still report police failing to record complaints, urging reconciliation, or minimising violence, and that this is especially evident when police officers are involved.

She says FWCC handled a case this year where a survivor was allegedly handcuffed and beaten by her husband, a police officer, who remains employed with no charges laid.

Ali says women face double jeopardy when the perpetrator is a police officer.

FWCC says that despite the Fiji Police Force’s stated zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence, it is not being applied by all officers.

Ali says some police pressure survivors with questions like “Do you want him to lose his job?” or “Who will feed you?”

She adds that women are often counselled to return home and drop complaints against their abusive partners.

She warns that a culture of reconciliation continues to pressure victims to stay away from court, leaving them disillusioned with a justice system that appears “uninterested and hostile.”

Ali says many women give up when the system shows them their pain does not matter, which is the very definition of impunity.

FWCC is urging all institutions, including law enforcement, government, communities, and faith leaders—to uphold accountability, strengthen survivor-centred responses, and end impunity once and for all.

They also urge political leaders not to erase women and girls’ pain, suffering, or their experiences of violence.