Youths in the West vow to fight domestic violence

Objective of this workshop was to understand gender power relations and its link to violence against women and girls in the country.

Participants at a workshop in Lautoka have been told that violence against women and girls is a global pandemic and a moral affront to all women and girls.

Broderick Mervyn, president of the youth-led movement Ignite4Change, described violence against women and girls as a mark of shame on all our societies and a major obstacle to inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.

Mr Mervyn was speaking at the Domestic Violence, Violence Against Women and Girls and Basic Human Rights Youth Workshop organised by Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre in partnership with Ignite4Change at the Tanoa Waterfront Hotel in Lautoka.

“At its core, violence against women and girls in all its forms is the manifestation of a profound lack of respect – a failure by men to recognise the inherent equality and dignity of women. It is an issue of fundamental human rights,” he added.

The workshop targeted 30 youths living in the Western Division and the objective of this workshop was to understand gender power relations and its link to violence against women and girls in the country.

Mr Mervyn said the workshop empowered participants to rise and take up the challenge to combat domestic violence in Fiji. He acknowledge Shamima Ali, the co-ordinator of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, and the organisers for making the workshop possible.