IN Fiji the economic cost borne for family and sexual violence is estimated at about $291.05million.

This was among the key findings of the Pacific Women First Progress Report 2012 to 2015, which was officially launched by Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar in Suva last week.

“In Fiji, for example the direct (expenditure on services including medical and legal) and indirect costs of long-term physical and psychological effects of violence have been estimated at around $291.05m or about 7 per cent of gross domestic product,” the report stated.

It pointed that family and sexual violence had high economic costs for societies.

“These are including lost wages and productivity, health care and social service costs of apprehending, prosecuting and imprisoning perpetrators.

“To address violence against women and children, it is necessary to ensure all interventions are grounded in a human rights and gender transformative approach.”

The report said Pacific Island countries were developing stronger legislative frameworks to protect women, but further action was needed to implement those laws.

“Pacific women’s work in this area seeks to support improved service delivery, strengthen the responsiveness of the law and justice system, and enhance preventive measures through advocacy and outreach.”