THE long hours spent consuming kava and scrolling on Facebook have been cited as the reasons behind the growing rates of violence against women and children in Cakaudrove.
Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei Cakaudrove project coordinator Maca Shaw revealed that many families in the province’s villages were struggling because both men and women were no longer playing their proper roles at home.
“During awareness, I always ask men why there is violence at home,” she said.
“They would write things like, ‘women drink too much grog, they come home late, and they’re always on Facebook’,” she said.
However, Ms Shaw said, the women had a different viewpoint.
“The women stated that too many times men drink too much and sleep all day.
“Then they wake up expecting food, or intimacy, and when they don’t get what they want, they get angry and hit their partners.”
Ms Shaw said the feedback from their awareness sessions showed that both women and men had problems, but the real issue was that both lacked responsibility in the home.
“Men don’t act like fathers and husbands. Women are struggling to care for their children and homes.”
She said the answer to ending the scourge of violence against women and children started in the home, and it required respect, a clear understanding by both men and women of their roles in the home, and parents putting their families first.