Fiji: Speak Up, Take Action To Save Lives And Stop Femicide!
Press Release – Fiji Women's Rights Movement
We urgently call on every community to be vigilant in protecting our women and children who are living in abusive relationships. Domestic violence is not love it is power, control, and manipulation at its worst.
The Fiji Women's Rights Movement (FWRM) is outraged by the recent spate of violence against women resulting in serious injuries along with the brutal murder of two women by their partners in separate incidents over the weekend.
We urgently call on every community to be vigilant in protecting our women and children who are living in abusive relationships. Domestic violence is not love — it is power, control, and manipulation at its worst.
How many more women and girls must be assaulted and murdered for us to say, enough is enough!?
'These are people's lives! These are women who mean the world to their children and their families and the people who love them. We cannot be bystanders anymore. Why are we not speaking up against perpetrators of violence? Women are cowering under the violence their partners inflict, women are running out of their houses with bruises on their bodies, black eyes and bloody faces. Why are we not jumping in to help save the lives of our women while we still can?' said FWRM Executive Director, Nalini Singh.
We must recognise that women experiencing violence may not have access to a safe environment to report abuse or the necessary resources to leave violent relationships. It is important to consider the many intersecting factors that impact women facing domestic violence, rather than simply urging them to reach out for help, leave or report without addressing the broader systemic barriers they face.
Two in three women have suffered intimate partner violence in Fiji at some point in their lives. Our research also found that it takes a woman more than two years (868 days) to report violence in Fiji and statistics show that the Pacific region has the highest prevalent rate of violence in the world. The economic cost of violence against women and girls in Fiji is estimated at over $300 million per year, roughly 7% of our annual GDP.
'It is not just a 'family matter. Telling ourselves 'It's not our business' doesn't just allow violence to continue — it makes us complicit. We need to speak up against perpetrators of violence. Your voice matters. Silence and indifference are not neutral acts. They are part of the problem,' Ms Singh said.
If you see someone, if you know of someone or if you yourself have experienced domestic violence, please contact the National Helpline for Domestic Violence that can be reached free by dialing 1560 from any network.
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