Farmer Travels from Vatukoula to Suva to Support Man Up
Afarmer Taito Koroi, 44, travelled all the way from Vatukoula to Suva to make his stand in supporting non-violence towards women and children. Mr Koroi said that last year they had made a billboard in the community to support the cause.
“That billboard is helping us to be a community free of gender violence and I can proudly say that there are no reports of genderbased violence in the Vatukoula Police station currently. “Women before were abused by men especially when they got drunk but now we see all that has stopped,” said Mr Koroi. Women, men and children from particular communities in Fiji came in numbers to support the ‘Man Up Fiji campaign’ that is promoting male advocacy for the elimination of gender based violence.
This is the First campaign of its kind for Fiji.
Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa said, “The National Women’s machinery in collaboration with the Private Sector organisations including some of Fiji’s big names in the business sector are reaching out to the men of this country because we need their help.
“We want to end gender inequality and to do this; we need everyone to be involved.”
The event was held at Albert Park and the chief guest was the President Major General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote.
Mr Konrote encouraged men to stand up to stop gender based violence in their communities. “This campaign aims to encourage men and boys to develop greater respect and tolerance for our women and our girls and it requires a positive change in how men treat our women within our homes and communities,” he said.
The ambassador for the man up Fiji campaign Ajay Bhai Amrit said that they are trying to get male advocates who will be trained by the Ministry of Women and Children to go out in their various organisations and prove that you cannot have violence against women and children. President of the Women’s group in Ra, Rosemary McIndoe came all the way from Rakiraki to support the man up Fiji Campaign. Ms McIndoe picked up supporters from Nadi too.
Raymond John from Papua New Guinea (PNG) was also part of this campaign along with seven others from PNG.
“This campaign really encourages me to be a man and to look after my wife and the kids. Gender based violence is a big issue in PNG and there are regular campaigns hosted in there to advocate on this issue,” said Mr John.