Counsellor shares worst experience
I began following the FWCC programs and activities that they held around Suva at the time, the small gatherings at Sukuna Park and the marches
– Ishu Ratnam Lal
ONE of the worst experiences Ishu Ratnam Lal faced in her 32 years as a counsellor at the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre was the way a domestic violence survivor with a baby on her lap was yelled at and treated by police officers when she went to report the matter.
“It would have been in the late ‘90s,” the 65-year-old said.
“The way the officers shouted at her and treated the survivor who had been abused, she was sitting there crying with her baby on her lap.
“I think that was one of my worst experiences.”
She said the attitude of police officers to domestic violence and rape survivors had since changed. “It used to be really bad. “What women face at police stations has changed — it’s still not where it should be but it’s a lot better than when I joined the centre.
“In the late ‘80s and ‘90s, survivors were not listened to or treated properly, and because of that many of them, if they were abused again, did not want to come forward and report.
“But after years of advocacy, outreach programs and Shamima Ali (FWCC co-ordinator) doing police training, things have changed and women are given dignity and respect when they go to report at police stations today.”
Ms Lal’s journey to the FWCC was inspired by Ms Ali.
“In 1989 I was listening to some English radio programs and I heard Shamima on the radio.
“She was talking about the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and everything she said really interested me.
“Shamima used to talk about vulnerable women and the violence and abuse they were subjected to, the way survivors were being treated, and that inspired me. I wanted to be involved in something that made a difference and the FWCC provided that opportunity.
“I began following the FWCC programs and activities that they held around Suva at the time, the small gatherings at Sukuna Park and the marches.”
She participated in a counsellor training program in 1989 and was taken in to work as a part-time counsellor.
“In my 32 years at the centre, I have noticed some things did not change — the amount of women being abused and the fact that domestic violence, abuse or rape does not affect one particular group.
“It is everywhere and it is going to continue to be an issue unless attitudes change.”