‘Change our culture’
ACTION to stop violence against women and girls in Fiji must be taken now through every possible avenue, says Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa.
While speaking at a workshop on first responders to domestic violence and sexual abuse at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish hall in Lautoka, Mrs Vuniwaqa said the first step was to acknowledge that we have a problem and to take ownership of it because the nature of domestic violence was such that it thrives in silence.
“The numerous tragedies of Fijian women losing their lives at the hands of men who promised to love and protect them reminds us time and again that we must keep working together to change our culture and attitudes that are embedded in men and boys’ power and control over women, gender inequality, gender discrimination and patriarchy,” she said.
“To me, knowingly or not, we give our boys licence to act abusively and it’s up to girls to adjust accordingly.
“This isn’t nature, this is nurture. We tend to dismiss boys’ aggression as a function of their masculinity and we rationalise it.
“The more we conform to gender stereotypes, conditions will remain ripe for Fijian men and boys to exert power and control over women and girls — power we covertly tell our boys is theirs through tradition, socialisation and role models.
“The Government of Fiji will keep working with all relevant stakeholders towards a society free from violence and I emphasise that violence against women, girls and children is preventable and we all shall and can play our part.”
Mrs Vuniwaqa pleaded with all Fijians not to turn a blind eye when they see abuse happening by saying “it’s their personal matter”.
She said sexual abuse and domestic violence should not be treated as a personal matter because they are criminal acts.
“The message must be consistently loud, clear and unequivocal that violence against women has no place in our society.”
The three-day workshop is organised by the Women Ministry of Caritas Archdiocese of Suva – with the theme listening to cries of women and children – ended yesterday.