Latest news with #NaliniSingh
Scoop
01-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Break The Silence On Periods, Change Mindsets
Press Release – Fiji Women's Rights Movement The annual event, with almost 180 participants from different communities around Suva, is a platform used to share awareness and information about menstruation and its related issues. Let us break the silence, change mindsets and start openly talking about periods. This was the sentiment shared today at the Fiji Women's Rights Movement Let's Talk Periods festival held in Suva to mark World Menstrual Health Day this week. Opening the event, FWRM Governance Board Chair called for an end to the stigma on periods and advocating for better WASH facilities in schools. The annual event, with almost 180 participants from different communities around Suva, is a platform used to share awareness and information about menstruation and its related issues. 'Whatever that is held as taboo does not make sense now – times have changed. We need to talk about periods, we need to make our voices louder so that we can have respectable dignified experiences when we get our periods and unless we have those open and honest conversations, we are never going to come out of this cycle of stigmatising periods. It is our responsibility to ensure that our menstrual needs and health is well taken care of,' FWRM Executive Director Nalini Singh said. Ms Singh made the remarks during an intergenerational panel facilitated during the programme that included shared experiences from panelists in their different stages of the menstrual cycle. 'Periods are normal. It is natural. It is your body talking to you. If you don't get your period, then you know something is wrong. It is not something you should be ashamed of, it's a living breathing rhythm that reminds me of the fact that I am a woman,' said Jessica Work, International Planned Parenthood Fiji representative. Another panelist, Shurti Sharma, a graduate of FWRM's (GIRLS) Program highlighted the need for schools to integrate menstrual health and hygiene learning in the curriculum. 'Make safe spaces in schools for students to talk openly about menstruation and the experiences you go through. A lot of the times, teachers are often shying away from these conversations and the risk is messages and information are often not being shared accurately, 'Shurti said. FWRM believes in more awareness and information on sexual and reproductive health in our educational curriculums, especially targeted towards our girls. Comprehensive Sexuality Education would ensure that topics such as menstrual health and hygiene is delivered in a much more effective way. Other issues raised during the event was the need to provide free menstrual products and to avail them in schools, restrooms, prisons and other public places; the removal of the shame of being on your period and the need for men to attend such events to learn more about women's bodies and to understand the experiences women have with their periods. The programme included partners who collaborated with FWRM to open up booths for information sharing and awareness on a range of issues such as menstrual health and hygiene, myths, taboos, reproductive health, bodily autonomy and more. Let's Talk Periods 2025 was supported by the Australian Government in partnership with Pacific Menstrual Health Network and Water Aid. 'It begins with us. Those of you who have come here, you have probably come with younger members of your families. It is up to you now to go back and have conversations about normalising periods beginning from your homes,'Ms Singh added.
Scoop
01-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Break The Silence On Periods, Change Mindsets
Let us break the silence, change mindsets and start openly talking about periods. This was the sentiment shared today at the Fiji Women's Rights Movement Let's Talk Periods festival held in Suva to mark World Menstrual Health Day this week. Opening the event, FWRM Governance Board Chair called for an end to the stigma on periods and advocating for better WASH facilities in schools. The annual event, with almost 180 participants from different communities around Suva, is a platform used to share awareness and information about menstruation and its related issues. 'Whatever that is held as taboo does not make sense now - times have changed. We need to talk about periods, we need to make our voices louder so that we can have respectable dignified experiences when we get our periods and unless we have those open and honest conversations, we are never going to come out of this cycle of stigmatising periods. It is our responsibility to ensure that our menstrual needs and health is well taken care of,' FWRM Executive Director Nalini Singh said. Ms Singh made the remarks during an intergenerational panel facilitated during the programme that included shared experiences from panelists in their different stages of the menstrual cycle. 'Periods are normal. It is natural. It is your body talking to you. If you don't get your period, then you know something is wrong. It is not something you should be ashamed of, it's a living breathing rhythm that reminds me of the fact that I am a woman,' said Jessica Work, International Planned Parenthood Fiji representative. Another panelist, Shurti Sharma, a graduate of FWRM's (GIRLS) Program highlighted the need for schools to integrate menstrual health and hygiene learning in the curriculum. 'Make safe spaces in schools for students to talk openly about menstruation and the experiences you go through. A lot of the times, teachers are often shying away from these conversations and the risk is messages and information are often not being shared accurately, 'Shurti said. FWRM believes in more awareness and information on sexual and reproductive health in our educational curriculums, especially targeted towards our girls. Comprehensive Sexuality Education would ensure that topics such as menstrual health and hygiene is delivered in a much more effective way. Other issues raised during the event was the need to provide free menstrual products and to avail them in schools, restrooms, prisons and other public places; the removal of the shame of being on your period and the need for men to attend such events to learn more about women's bodies and to understand the experiences women have with their periods. The programme included partners who collaborated with FWRM to open up booths for information sharing and awareness on a range of issues such as menstrual health and hygiene, myths, taboos, reproductive health, bodily autonomy and more. Let's Talk Periods 2025 was supported by the Australian Government in partnership with Pacific Menstrual Health Network and Water Aid. 'It begins with us. Those of you who have come here, you have probably come with younger members of your families. It is up to you now to go back and have conversations about normalising periods beginning from your homes,'Ms Singh added.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Fiji: Patriarchy Is The Root Cause Of Violence
Press Release – Fiji Women's Rights Movement FWRM calls for more constructive dialogue on how to address violence and create a safe environment for the vulnerable in our households, especially for victims/survivors of abuse. FWRM strongly demands that our leaders refrain from making frivolous, careless and uninformed statements that further perpetuate acts of violence. We also remind them of the root cause of violence that is clearly stated in the Fiji National Action Plan (NAP) to Prevent Violence Against All Women and Girls 2023-2028 – patriarchy! Implying that men are highly inclined to commit violence due to unhealed trauma and financial struggles not only shifts the responsibility away from the perpetrators but also puts vulnerable members of our communities at risk, especially women and children who may already be experiencing abuse at home. 'Domestic violence stems from the choice to use power and control over another person. The cause of violence is rooted in patriarchy that reinforces societal norms and gender inequality that tolerates abuse against women. Our leaders need to learn and understand the roots of gender-based violence and its far-reaching consequences as it impacts not just on the women and children but whole communities and societies,' FWRM Executive Director, Nalini Singh said. FWRM calls for more constructive dialogue on how to address violence and create a safe environment for the vulnerable in our households, especially for victims/survivors of abuse. According to FWRM research, women who have faced violence experienced barriers accessing justice due to legal, financial, geographical or practical barriers. Our leaders need to be more focused on ensuring that justice systems are accessible, responsive and victim-friendly, and they must tackle the root causes of violence. FWRM looks forward to the further implementation of strategies in the Fiji NAP, which also fosters collaboration between all stakeholders. We also call for a clear, unapologetic focus on ending gender-based violence through a human rights approach, one that demands accountability, addresses trauma, and dismantles the systems that allow violence to thrive. Violence against women in Fiji is rife. We need to act now!
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Fiji: Patriarchy Is The Root Cause Of Violence
Press Release – Fiji Women's Rights Movement FWRM calls for more constructive dialogue on how to address violence and create a safe environment for the vulnerable in our households, especially for victims/survivors of abuse. FWRM strongly demands that our leaders refrain from making frivolous, careless and uninformed statements that further perpetuate acts of violence. We also remind them of the root cause of violence that is clearly stated in the Fiji National Action Plan (NAP) to Prevent Violence Against All Women and Girls 2023-2028 – patriarchy! Implying that men are highly inclined to commit violence due to unhealed trauma and financial struggles not only shifts the responsibility away from the perpetrators but also puts vulnerable members of our communities at risk, especially women and children who may already be experiencing abuse at home. 'Domestic violence stems from the choice to use power and control over another person. The cause of violence is rooted in patriarchy that reinforces societal norms and gender inequality that tolerates abuse against women. Our leaders need to learn and understand the roots of gender-based violence and its far-reaching consequences as it impacts not just on the women and children but whole communities and societies,' FWRM Executive Director, Nalini Singh said. FWRM calls for more constructive dialogue on how to address violence and create a safe environment for the vulnerable in our households, especially for victims/survivors of abuse. According to FWRM research, women who have faced violence experienced barriers accessing justice due to legal, financial, geographical or practical barriers. Our leaders need to be more focused on ensuring that justice systems are accessible, responsive and victim-friendly, and they must tackle the root causes of violence. FWRM looks forward to the further implementation of strategies in the Fiji NAP, which also fosters collaboration between all stakeholders. We also call for a clear, unapologetic focus on ending gender-based violence through a human rights approach, one that demands accountability, addresses trauma, and dismantles the systems that allow violence to thrive. Violence against women in Fiji is rife. We need to act now!
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Scoop
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.
