Amrit joins PM in the charge for real men to treat women with respect, dignity

Men who think they are the boss, more superior to women and expect women to be subservient to their will and machinations, need to know they are wrong.

Ajay Amrit is the man. The real man. While some of his friends may have been riled by his choice to be the Ambassador for the Man Up programme and ridiculed by others, Amrit is not discouraged. Instead it has given him motivation to become a champion for women and children against violent and abusive behaviour by men. He gets our top medal of the week for his courage and strong sense of civic responsibility in engaging in a thankless task. When some of his peers are saying this is a poor man’s problem and therefore it’s not their problem, Mr Amrit says “hang on a minute, this is a problem for all, poor and rich.” There is no dividing line. There is overwhelming evidence that shows that domestic violence is rife and women and children are the victims. It is so bad that the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, says we are facing a crisis and it’s a national shame. Strong words but they aptly describe the situation that stares us in the face. We need more men, real men, like Mr Bainimarama and Mr Amrit, to speak out and speak their mind about a social evil that attacks the very foundation of society’s basic unit, the family.

Only cowards abuse and violate some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, women and children.

Men who think they are the boss, more superior to women and expect women to be subservient to their will and machinations, need to know they are wrong. It’s that kind of attitude or mindset that pushes some men to commit some of the most horrendous crimes against our women and children. Domestic violence will decrease when more men change that mindset. While men may be regarded as the patriarch in the home they share equal responsibilities with women. That equality provision goes beyond mere words. It needs to be alive and thriving in our homes. It means we need to practise it and live it. When it becomes our way of life, it replaces contention and violence.

It is time for all men to get rid of their male chauvinistic tendencies and recognise that we now live in a new Fiji where women are equal partners in national development.

There is absolutely no excuse for women to be treated as second class or inferior to men. The use of violence by men to impose their will on women is a crime and the law enforcement agencies are adopting a zero tolerance approach.

Cases that have recently come before the courts show that some men still don’t get it. Hopefully, through the Man Up campaign, more men will jump on the Amrit Express and tell the world that in Fiji, we men are real men who love, respect and treat our women with dignity at all times.

It is time for all men to get rid of their male chauvinistic tendencies and recognise that we now live in a new Fiji where women are equal partners in national development. To accomplish cancer awareness, a public-private approach to tackling the disease was essential... Alex O'Conor Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services