DELAYS in police responses to violence against women are undermining survivors’ access to justice, says Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali.
Ms Ali said her organisation regularly encountered difficulties when helping women report abuse and seek assistance.
“Every day in our work at the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, we find police action is so slow, so reluctant to charge and so on,” she said.
Her comments follow the discovery of two women’s bodies within days of each other renewing concerns about women’s safety.
Ms Ali said survivors needed an environment where they could report violence and receive appropriate support.
“For us, the rest of us, we must provide an enabling environment for people to come and report.”
She said counsellors often had to accompany women through the process of seeking justice.
“For our counsellors, it is a daily grind going from police station to police station and so on and trying to get women the justice that they require,” she added.
“Whether it’s a family member, whether it’s a stranger, whether it’s your priest, your doctor, your teacher, whoever it is, you must speak out.”
She encouraged survivors needing help to contact the national toll-free helpline on 1560, contracted by Government and operated by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre.
“We don’t guarantee that you’re going to get everything you want, but at least we can tell you, we can guide you to where you can get help and where you can reach safety.”
She urged people not to remain silent about abuse.
“Someone will listen to you. Speak out and say no very loudly.”
