Local Government Minister, Premila Kumar says once again Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator, Shamima Ali has reacted as if she is the only chosen one to talk on the subject of feminism and highlighting issues affecting women.
Ali had called on Premila Kumar to have some respect and be more considerate while making public statements after Kumar said that she has been informed that prostitution has surfaced in the Public Rental Board flats.
Ali had said these are wild allegations and can have devastating impacts on women who are already marginalized and live in the low-income flats.
However, Kumar reminded Ali that as a woman, she understands the peculiarity of problems of not just these women but also others who are facing problems socially and economically.
The Minister says highlighting such problems publically does not in anyway shame any section of society but rather boldly raises awareness that such issues are around us and we should all cooperate to address these rather than gaining mileage out of these.
Kumar says she made the statement about the problems of prostitution and other ills such as drinking alcohol in stairways, drug peddling, people living in flats having their own properties, overcrowding in flats, damaging properties and the fear in which tenants have been living in PRB flats, after carefully understanding the issues raised by the tenants. She says these problems have been there for some time, and as Government, it is their responsibility to transform these living places or flats so that it becomes safer for not only women but also for children, elderly and most vulnerable members of society.
Kumar says they should not be lectured on the feminism and economics behind women who are facing problems. She says neither should they be lectured about vilification and traumatization of women. She further says that as a Government Minister, it is her duty to transform lives so that they can break the cycle of poverty, violence and inequality and not to create a hype.
The Minister says the fact of the matter is, unlike an NGO that can afford to sensationalise on the ills that affect our society, as Government they have the responsibility to address these issues which comes with actions.
She says it takes courage to acknowledge that there is a problem and to actually then do something to address the problem. Kumar asks Ali how can she assume that prostitution is only with women.
Kumar says unlike Ali, she has no intention of sensationalising and keeping abject women in a perpetual state of crisis. She says enough of the armchair criticism, and potshots on the sidelines will not transform these housing areas.
The Local Government Minister says the fact that the state provided these tenants subsidized flats and continues to develop more flats, is in itself evidence that Government is looking after them and it does not want these flats to become unsafe and a threat to women, children and elderly.
She says she will continue to highlight these problems and work with her fellow Ministers and other institutions to make these flats safer and comfortable for tenants.
The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator, Shamima Ali says the Minister should back her broad public statements with evidence and data, and not just shame women for being involved in prostitution.
Ali says it would have been appropriate for the Minister to understand the complexity of the problem, visit the women living in the area and raise awareness, instead of grandstanding in the media.
She says now that the issue has garnered public attention, women living in the area face the risks of being targeted, blamed, abused, humiliated, vilified or physically attacked.
The Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator says Premila Kumar should understand that in most cases, prostitution is not a conscious and calculated choice.
Ali says most women who become prostitutes do so because they were forced or coerced by a man, or, when it is an independent decision, it is generally the result of extreme poverty and lack of opportunity, or of serious underlying problems, such as drug addiction or trauma.
She also says the Minister should first understand that prostitution is a form of exploitation of women and male dominance over women, resulting from the existing patriarchal societal order.
Ali says that is where the Minister should divert her attention to – understanding the root cause of the problem and not create unnecessary panic and fear.
She has urged national leaders to understand the implications their public statements could have on the lives of those who are already vulnerable in our society.
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