Culture of violence must be broken, says SC Fiji
THE culture of violence must be broken, and it is up to all members of the community to collectively fight this injustice against children.
The comment by Save the Children Fiji (SC Fiji) CEO Shairana
Ali comes in response to a video circulating on social media of an adult resorting to physical abuse to discipline a child.
Ms Ali said there should be zero tolerance for abuse of any kind against vulnerable children in
Fiji, and that every member of the community must learn to speak up and stand up for child rights and protect children.
“We can no longer stand by and witness abuse against children in our communities. We must band together to prevent such incidents from happening in the first place,” Ms Ali said.
She said the video served as a stark reminder of the urgent need for collective action to end violence against children.
“It highlights the critical role that parents, caregivers and bystanders play in preventing and addressing such incidents.
“We call on every parent, guardian and caregiver to seek support and guidance on positive discipline methods that promote healthy child development and respect for children’s rights.
Ms Ali said SC Fiji was calling on the police to take swift and decisive action against perpetrators of violence against children.
“We urge law enforcement agencies to prioritise the investigation of such cases and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
“SC Fiji urges bystanders who witness instances of child abuse to intervene safely and report such incidents to relevant authorities.”
SC Fiji says they remain steadfast in their mission to ensure the safety, wellbeing and dignity of every child, and that it would continue to advocate for policies and programs that protect children from all forms of abuse and exploitation.