Women and Children “Constant Targets” of Gender-Based Violence
Gender-Based Violence, whether physical, sexual, emotional, or economic, is recognised globally as one of the most widespread and persistent violations of the rights of women and girls.
Divisional Commissioner West Apolosi Lewaqai made these comments while opening the two-day Western interagency response to gender-based violence workshop . The workshop is a collaborative initiative of the Medical Services Pacific and the European Union which began at the Tanoa Waterfront Hotel in Lautoka yesterday. “In the world, one in three women experience gender-based violence during their lifetime. This comes at a significant cost not just to the women concerned, but to their families, their communities and to the country as a whole,” he said.
“The implementation of the national service delivery protocols and prioritising survivor-centred approach ensuring accountability and accessibility of services for survivors.”
He said the workshop coincided with the 16 Days of Activism campaign which focused on increasing awareness of the negative impact of violence against women, children and society.
“Whilst there are legislations and national protocols and plans to prevent and respond to the abuse,
Government cannot do this alone and therefore depends on mutual partnerships with non-government organisations in various sectors of society and communities,” he said. He said more could be achieved to prevent gender-based violence and make communities safer if government organisations worked in partnership with non-government organisations that provided support services to gender-based violence survivors.
“I hope at the end of this two-day workshop, we will be committed to address the rate of gender-based violence and your aim to collaborate as government and non-government organisations to strengthen the protection and referral systems , improve service delivery and increase access to justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence,” he said.