Fiji’s cybercrime laws and online safety laws are not sufficient to protect women and need a thorough review, says Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya.
She told the Speaker’s Debate in Suva last week, she said the review was necessary to give powers to the Online Safety Commission to investigate and prosecute perpetrators.
“So that the Online Safety Commission is given powers to investigate and prosecute perpetrators as well as being able to do this across international borders when the attackers are located in another country,” Ms Tabuya said.
“Daily, we see women attacked online, and an increasing trend of extortion by perpetrators from family members were threatened to pay money or the perpetrator would pop images.
“A woman is attacked 10 times more than her male counterpart online.
“Of course, it acts as a deterrence for women to step into public life to effectively participate in public decision-making, to be sufficiently embarrassed in her role and to have a pathway to national leadership.
“Just remember, if it can happen to me, it can happen to you. This needs to change.”
