The NGO Coalition on Human Rights is making an urgent call that the full force of the State from Home Affairs, Fiji Police Force and Ministry for Health and Medical Services are brought to bear on the horrific case where a 19 year old sex worker from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex+ community was brutally murdered in Lautoka.
The NGO Coalition including LGBTQI+ community in Fiji are devastated by the reported murder of Esther, also known as Setariki Ravato, a 19 year old gender diverse young person from Ba and Lautoka.
Executive Director of DIVA for Equality, and member of the Fiji NGO Coalition on Human Rights, Noelene Nabulivou says a group of people have taken the life of a 19 year old, subjecting him to extreme sexualised torture, violence and indignity.
Nabulivou says it is way past time we ask ourselves just what kind of society we are, with so much violence and patriarchy in our country.
She says such crimes are not just heinous in and of themselves, they shame all of us in Fiji.
The NGOs say the victim was allegedly tortured and murdered two weeks ago by a group of men and women after being taken from outside his home, as witnessed by an associate.
The 19 year old reportedly died from severe internal injuries.
The NGO Coalition says a statement has been filed at the Lautoka Police Station but there is no public update yet on the progress of investigations.
They demand that the human rights of this young person are clearly defined in all dealings with this case, and that those who committed this crime are brought to justice, no matter who they are or their relationship to the victim.
The NGO Coalition asks that this reported murder becomes a vanguard moment where the people and Government of Fiji show that we will not stand for this type of transphobic hate crime nor any gender based violence.
They call for the strongest consequences for those who committed this heinous crime.
Police are yet to respond.
An urgent call is being made by the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission for the Fiji Police Force to thoroughly investigate the death of a 19-year-old sex worker, a member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex community, who reportedly died following an alleged violent attack late last month in Lautoka.
Chair of the Commission, Pravesh Sharma says the Commission strongly condemns all forms of violence, homophobic hate crimes and attacks on people on the grounds of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or those who do not conform to the binary sociocultural gender stereotypes and ‘norms’.
Sharma says they are concerned and deeply saddened that a young life has been lost.
They are hopeful that the alleged perpetrators will face the full brunt of the law.
The Commission will be monitoring the progress of this incident.
fijivillage News has sent questions to the Police. They are yet to respond.
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