Bank of the South Pacific country head Haroon Ali says since the inception of the Black Thursday campaign in July, 2020, it has become the bank’s flagship initiative to shed light on the pervasive issues of family and sexual violence and gender-based violence.
Mr Ali said the bank’s employees had taken a united stand against the scourge of violence within their communities.
“BSP Financial Group Ltd (BSP) is fully committed to battling family and sexual violence (FSV) and gender-based violence (GBV) through the observance of the Black Thursdays campaign,” he said in a media statement yesterday.
“Our homes are meant to be sanctuaries.
“When they cease to be safe havens due to family and sexual violence, the tragic impact can no longer be ignored.
“By wearing black every Thursday, our staff across the region join a global movement speaking out against this social injustice that has far reaching socio-economic consequences.”
Mr Ali said as a socially responsible bank, it was their duty to raise awareness and foster support for victims, child witnesses, and society at large.
“Regrettably, the persistent threat of violence faced by Fijians is increasingly prevalent within homes, where the assailant is often someone known and trusted by the victims.
“The recent fatal domestic violence against a mother in Narewa is strongly condemned by BSP which had a team of staff reaching out to the children and their guardians soon after the tragic incident.”
Mr Ali reiterated that such acts of violence had detrimental long-term effects on innocent victims.
“As a leading financial service provider with a large combined workforce across the region, BSP has implemented a group family and sexual violence policy.
“This staff policy nurtures a corporate culture that is safe and non-judgmental for staff who face violence at home.
“It also establishes a governance and reporting structure to address family and sexual violence issues that supports survivors and addresses financial abuse as a barrier to exiting abusive situations.
“BSP staff support for the Black Thursday campaign is envisioned to serve as a beacon of hope for those who suffer in silence, their tears silenced by the social stigma associated with FSV or GBV.”
