More Needs to Be Done for Women: Lewaqai
There is still much more to be done for representation of women at the political and democratic decision-making level.
This was the statement made by the Commissioner Western, Apolosi Lewaqai while officiating at the launch of the 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence at the Lautoka City Council Chambers on Friday.
The launch was hosted by Empower Pacific.
The theme this year is Unite activism to end violence against women and girls.
The launch also coincided with the mark of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Mr Lewaqai said in Fiji, statistics were that almost 64 per cent of women experienced lifetime physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence and one in three women experienced sexual violence be either a partner or non-partner in their lifetime.
“This comes as a significant cost not just to the women concerned but to their families, their communities and to the country as a whole,” he said.
“It is our responsibility to stand ready to support each other in translating the national targets and in achieving results towards the prevention of violence.
“There can be no doubt that the journey towards equality and the empowerment of women remains a significant one.”
Empower Pacific chief executive officer, Patrick Morgam said the organization often provided immediate support to clients who would call, in many cases women, who were struggling to meet their family needs or suffering from violence and relationship issues at home.
“While attending individual psychosocial needs, we also provided awareness raising sessions engaging with both women and men to address the issues, which is, I believe, leading to transformation of unequal power relationships between men and women in a peaceful manner and contributing to prevention of violence and gender equality,” he said.
Seven women allegedly die at hands of men
Meanwhile, at a samethemed campaign in Labasa, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre coordinator Shamima Ali said their record showed that seven women had died at the hands of men under certain circumstances within ten months this year.
She said 2019 ten women allegedly died under the similar circumstances.
“We even get cases where people come to report to our centres that a particular person didn’t commit suicide,” Ms Ali said.
“We have had over the last three years, about three cases opened up again which were classified and then family members kept coming to say to us that she would not do that.
“We should remember these women and when people say there are too much talk about violence against women, we should think of the above victims which I have mentioned,” she said. The day marked the beginning of the annual 16-day long global campaign to focus on all forms of violence against women that persist in Fiji, the Pacific and across the globe.