Fiji has an epidemic of violence against women and girls in both public and private spaces – Akbar

With two out of three women having experienced domestic violence at the hands of their intimate partners, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar says Fiji is facing an epidemic of violence against women and girls in both public and private spaces.

While speaking at the High Level Media Briefing and launching of Fiji’s National Action Plan to prevent violence against women and girls, Akbar says almost one in three girls have been physically or sexually abused since the age of 15 in our country.

The Minister also says one of five women have faced sexual harassment in their workplace.

She says according to the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre National Research on Women’s Health 2010/2011, almost two in 10 girls experience sexual abuse in Fiji before they are 15 years old.

Akbar says this is often someone the girls know such as a male family member, an adult in their life, a neighbour and even a community member.

The minister adds even she has been a victim of domestic violence growing up and we need to take bold steps to speak openly to help in reducing the horrible cases of violence against women and children.

She adds while Fijian women and girls bear the brunt of the violence, the impact on our communities and society for generations to come is impacted.

Akbar also says global evidence now demonstrates that violence against women and girls is preventable if an evidenced-based, whole of population approach is advanced.

She says once developed, the National Action Plan will be a roadmap for the country to meaningfully stop violence against all women and girls in its tracks.

Akbar says since the first consultation in February this year, they have spoken to over 1,389 Fijians which is 56% of the target of 2,500 people across the country.