The Pacific Recycling Foundation has voiced serious concerns over a recent academic research article, warning that it risks undermining decades of work by front-line organisations fighting gender-based violence in Fiji.
PRF says the research, by Dr. Avelina Rokoduru questions the effectiveness of Fiji’s national response to gender-based violence.
They say while research in the area of gender-based violence is important, it must be approached with depth and context.
PRF Founder Amitesh Deo says the article’s conclusion — that the national response has failed to stop the killings — is an overly simplistic view of a complex issue.
He says using femicide numbers alone without broader context risks undermining the critical, life-saving work being done every day by frontline groups like the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre.
He emphasised that over the years, they have worked with FWCC to carry out gender-based violence interventions, particularly among iTaukei families and in marginalised communities.
Deo says progress has been made through survivor-centred advocacy, legal reforms, and education — but warns that regressive interpretations of feminism and gender dynamics could undermine those gains.
He says that before debating gender-based violence, there must be a deeper understanding of feminism and patriarchy.
He adds that without that understanding they risk empowering harmful narratives and silencing survivors.
PRF says that while the organisation is primarily known for its grassroots recycling and sustainability work, it also engages in rights-based community programs that include gender sensitisation, legal literacy, and domestic violence training.
Deo pointed out that many women today are succeeding in roles they were once excluded from, thanks to decades of awareness campaigns and support from organisations like FWCC.
PRF is also sounding the alarm on global trends where men involved in human rights violations are being glorified, saying such leadership examples are sending the wrong message.
Deo says that these regressive models of leadership are dangerous, especially in smaller nations as they undermine the work of feminist organisations and slow real progress.
He says they support evidence-based research, but such efforts must amplify — not overshadow — the voices and work of those who have been fighting gender-based violence for decades.
The Foundation says systemic change takes long-term commitment and collaboration, not isolated data points or surface-level analysis.
