Domestic violence

Nandini Kumar, Suva

I am writing to express my deepest concern about domestic violence against women in the Pacific. Violence against women is one of the most shameful human rights violation.

Fiji’s rate of violence against women is “among the highest in the world”.

As we go through newspapers and listen to radio and television, numerous cases about girls and women being abused, harassed, raped and murdered is shameful. Reasons for non-reporting incidents of domestic violence are complex, but may include fear of the perpetrator, fear of not being believed in or of being blamed, feelings of confusion, shame and embarrassment, fear of psychologically reliving the incident or reluctant to acknowledge that the incident ever occurred.

There are so many women who don’t report the matter, but seek advice or support from family members and friends.

Women were always considered weak, vulnerable and in a position to be exploited.

Fiji still has a patriarchal power structure with rigid gender roles where women are often poorly equipped to protect themselves if their partners become violent. But this is of course changing.

Women in Fiji have a right to live free from violence and this should be upheld by the decision-making body of the system that needs to make sure that such acts committed are dealt with harsh penalties to avoid future incidents.

Women deserve a life of respect, dignity and freedom. It’s never too late to speak up.