Bank South Pacific handed a $5000 cheque each to the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Lifeline Fiji yesterday.
BSP head of branch network, retail banking Kamini Mani said as a socially responsible bank they recognised they had to do more than just talk or more than just “wear black on Thursdays”.
“During this unprecedented time in our nation, we want to work with key partners who are well positioned to enable us to do more.
“On behalf of the BSP Fiji group, comprising the bank, BSP Life and BSP Finance, I am delighted to make this donation of $5000 each to the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Lifeline Fiji.
“While this financial gesture may not be significant in the overall scheme of donations, we recognise that both these charity organisations champion noble causes that often become joint operations in the care of victims of family and sexual violence or gender based violence,” she said.
She added the money given to FWCC and Lifeline Fiji would be used to help as many victims as possible who seek support from these organisations.
“Much of the work done by your teams happens behind the scenes as only severe cases make it into the news.
“Your critical intervention and sustained support for victims on their road to recovery puts you among Fiji’s top most unsung heroes,” she said.
BSP group CEO Robin Fleming announced in July according to Ms Mani the bank comprising staff in Fiji, PNG, Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Cambodia and Laos would observe #Blackthursdays which had been an initiative demonstrating its stand against family and sexual violence and gender based violence.
“As the largest banking network in Fiji, the Pacific and the two countries in Asia with over 2500 staff, wearing black every Thursday demonstrates our solidarity. “Our large numbers and interaction with an even larger number of customers also promotes the awareness on these important issues.”
FWCC co-ordinator Shamima Ali said it was important for organisations and corporate bodies to move out from tokenism and reflect their actions into the workplace.
“I say to everyone if you really are serious about promoting gender equality, ending violence against women, girls and children, all staff everywhere has to go through gender sensitisation.
“We have to understand gender dynamics, we have to understand why it is happening.”
Sexual harassment was also rife in this country and according to Ms Ali it was also important for corporates to look at how they dealt with that.
