Whenever the issue of women comes up, one of the main factors that needed to be analyzed is what a country's stance is in relation to women and what laws have been implemented to ensure that women are empowered and protected in the society.
In an interview with Fijivillage on International Women's Day today, Former DPP and High Court Judge, Nazhat Shameem said one of the difficulties for the relationship between women and the legal system in Fiji in the past was that often the legal and justice system had become barriers to justice.
Shameem said proposed laws on domestic violence were not passed for years and there was a great deal of institutionalized sexism.
Nazhat Shameem said with the Domestic Violence and Crimes Decrees implemented, a lot of changes have occurred for the protection and empowerment of women.
Shameem said another significant area is the area of domestic violence which has been infamously under-reported all over the world.
She said one of the main reasons why it has been under-reported is that there has been a strong stance towards forced reconciliation.
Shameem said under the decree, any concerned member of the public can take action.
Meanwhile, the former Suva Grammar School student who became the Director of Public Prosecutions before becoming a High Court Judge, called on women to be strong and focused.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
Feature
New decrees empower and protect women-Nazhat Shameem
