Alcohol fuelled abuse meted out on youths and women and girls is a huge issue in Fiji, says Assistant Women Children and Social Protection Minister Sashi Kiran.
While opening the workshop for Multi Sectoral approaches to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for the Pacific on Monday, she spoke about how a young Fijian boy who was left in the care of his mother’s relatives after she migrated, was repeatedly raped by his uncles when they were drunk.
Ms Kiran said while undergoing counselling, the young man wept bitterly because the trauma led to him growing up confused about his sexual orientation.
He also said he could not come to terms with the bitter childhood memories caused by the people who should have kept him safe.
Ms Kiran said a widow also shared about the pain and trauma that she and her daughters experienced as they were often targeted by drunk youths in their community.
The assistant minister said she was shocked at the level of depravity, most of it alcohol fuelled, where drunken relatives targeted those in their care and intoxicated youths targeted vulnerable women and girls.
