Project to increase access to justice

A TWO-YEAR project focusing on ensuring access to justice for survivors of sexual gender-based violence by Medical Services Pacific (MSP) was officially launched in Lautoka yesterday.

The project, titled “Strengthening Collaboration, Accountability, Law and Empowering Stakeholders”, was designed to support civil society organisations (CSO) in strengthening human rights priorities in Fiji by empowering women, youth, children, people with disabilities and marginalised groups, increasing access to justice for survivors of sexual gender-based violence, strengthening the capacity of CSO partners to deliver their mandates to end sexual gender-based violence.

MSP country director Ashna Shaleen said the project was funded by the European Union and supported organisations in furthering the EU’s human rights priorities in Fiji.

“The project will work very closely with government agencies and civil society organisations to strengthen the already existing protection system for vulnerable women and girls in the Western Division,” she said.

“We undertook to work within existing government structures to establish and sustain health sector services for survivors of sexual violence.”

European Union ambassador for the Pacific Sujiro Seam said the project reflected the values of the EU and their commitment to action.

“Rape can affect people from both genders but it disproportionately affects women and we refer to it as sexual gender-based violence,” he said.

“Women’s rights are human rights and this is the reason we decided to support this project through our Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights program.”