Violence free Christmas
SEASON’S greetings! The festive season is upon us and the year is coming to an end. For many of us, it’s a time for reflection, a time to take stock and plan for the coming year.
This year has been a very difficult year for many, and the festive season gives time for people to relax after a hard year of work, participate in parties and family gatherings.
It’s also that time of the year when many families will be uniting with their loved ones after a long time because of COVID-19 restrictions.
However, for many women and children, what should be a time of happiness, celebration and family reunion, is in reality the continuation or intensification of violence, threats and intimidation.
Just because it is the festive season, it doesn’t mean that verbal, physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse goes away.
For some women, it is the end of a life once known or the start of challenges and decisions brought about through domestic violence, sexual assault or rape by their intimate partners.
It has always been noticed that cases of violence against women and domestic violence spike during the holiday period from before Christmas to after New Year.
The festive season offers no respite for survivors, with many women and their children spending their Christmas and New Year’s living in fear and away from their loved ones.
For many women, Christmas is a time of bashing, hurt, fear, intimidation and cruelty directed at them and their children.
Over the years, FWCC has noticed an increasing trend in cases of rape and sexual harassment during the festive season.
Women and girls are not safe even in their own homes.
Structural barriers, patriarchy and discriminatory social norms continue to constrain women’s decision making powers and political participation in many households and communities.
Women are still being subjected to second class treatment by many.
According to our statistics, in the last eight years, 39 women were allegedly murdered as a result of domestic violence.
Let’s change the conversations in our homes, communities and workplaces to end violence against women and girls, not only for this festive season but forever.
This year, we faced one of the biggest crises the world has ever seen – COVID-19.
This left many without jobs. Many of these were women, mostly in the informal sector.
The pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures have exacerbated pre-existing vulnerabilities and contributed significantly to the rise in cases of domestic violence and abuse against women, girls and children.
It has significantly affected the most vulnerable - women and girls, with disabilities, widows, single mothers and members of the LGBTI community.
This festive season, let’s all stand in solidarity against these atrocities. Let’s lend a supporting hand and let’s be compassionate and caring.
The festive season should be a time of joy and not fear.
I urge people to be sensible with their alcohol intake and give true meaning to Christmas – a season of peace, goodwill and giving joy to those we love.
Show compassion, love and care and share whatever you can with those who are less fortunate and don’t have the means to afford the niceties of life.
I urge the government to look into the plight of our people who are suffering, those who are in hospitals with inadequate care, lack of resources and limited access to quality medical care.
As a Christmas gift to the taxpayers of this country, I call upon the Health Ministry to fix our deteriorating health and medical facilities and restore the faith in our people that our hospitals are capable of saving lives.
I also urge the Ministry of Social Welfare to immediately look into the living conditions of some of our senior citizens in age care homes, instead of ministerial visits, cake cutting ceremonies and picture opportunities with the residents.
The terrible conditions of our age care facilities can no longer be hidden.
I also call upon the menfolk in the country to stop abusing women and consume alcohol in moderation. We can get together, enjoy the festivities and have fun with our families and loved ones without consuming too much alcohol.
As a COVID-safe measure, I urge all of you to avoid attending crowded events and large gatherings and get vaccinated to protect yourself, your loved ones and our beloved Fiji.
To my fellow Fijians, I urge all of you to be good interventionists and stand up against violence against women, girls and children.
A world without violence is possible and this demands action, courage, commitment and determination from everyone to make it a reality.
Christmas is also the time of the year when people will receive their bonus, royalties, land lease payouts and cane payments.
We are in hard times, and I urge you to use your money wisely because you will need it next year for your children’s education. Save that money rather than using it on alcohol.
Let’s find strength in our differences, and celebrate everything we have in common and do our part to take care of each other and make life better for the people around us.
It is my wish that during this period we all do what we can to ensure that everybody — women, girls, men and boys — can live lives free from violence or the threat of violence and intimidation.
From me, the trustees and staff of FWCC and our branches in Nadi, Ba, Rakiraki and Labasa, we wish everyone a peaceful, joyful and unbeatable Christmas and a New Year full of hope, goodness, peace and justice.