Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya says she was character-assassinated as a woman and labelled as “the minister for bonking and weed” by certain social media influencers.

At the Speaker’s Debate in Suva this week, Ms Tabuya also spoke against her alleged drug and sex scandal with a Cabinet colleague.

“I’d like to share my personal experience dealing with the allegations of an affair with a fellow minister and allegations of drug use, which led to my removal as deputy leader of my party,” Ms Tabuya said.

“While they were merely allegations, I had to endure attacks on social media, vilifying me and labelled me as the minister for bonking and weed by certain social media influencers in an attempt to character-assassinate me as a woman, whereas my counterpart who was alleged did not have any repercussions from his party.

“What is a woman leader to do, let alone a woman who is subjected to this type of violence, technology-facilitated gender-based violence or online violence?

“What is her recourse when it crosses borders in international laws?”

Ms Tabuya said society should also tackle the issue of tech-facilitated gender-based violence and equip Fijian women as well as leaders with information and defence mechanisms.