GENDER VIOLENCE

RURAL AREAS HAVE MORE CASES: ALI

Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) Co-ordinator Shamima Ali says the highest number of cases of violence against women comes from the rural areas.

Ms Ali revealed this in an interview with the after officiating the 40th anniversary celebration of the Lautoka Sammilit Women’s Association on Saturday.

She also highlighted that more resources were needed in the maritime and rural areas.

“It takes a lot of resources, our national survey shows that it is in the maritime and rural areas where we have got a high prevalence of violence against women, where women’s empowerment is much less than it would be in the developing areas,” she said.

“I just think that it needs a lot of resources, it has to be in the strategic planning of Government or the policies that is reflected and the budget needs to reflect it.

“It takes a lot of resources and transportation needs to improve, especially in the maritime areas.” Meanwhile, Ms Ali said she was grateful to the association for putting in the effort throughout the 40 years in addressing issues that women face.

“They were already working on women’s empowerment, addressing poverty and removing dependency, addressing women’s poverty and the girls and children’s education,” she said.

“It is really good to see where it has gone up to now and these people have formed the base or the foundation that is being done now and these are rural women’s organisations that might not be so activist in nature but they have done it and good to see them still going and we are going to collaborate further.”

> Nicolette Chambers