The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) has expressed condolences to the family of Ovasisi Salusalu Viavia, who lost his life after allegedly intervening in a domestic violence incident last weekend.
FWCC has also stressed that consumption of alcohol was a contributing factor to violence against women and girls, but it was “not the cause and never an excuse”.
In a statement, FWCC said they were greatly saddened by the tragedy.
“He acted as a good citizen should but unfortunately lost his life, and we send our condolences to his family,” FWCC said.
“We still encourage bystander intervention by taking appropriate safety precautions like calling the police or the domestic violence toll-free line 1560.”
The centre has also hit out at the police and media for “blaming everything else for the violence against women and girls” and ignoring the main cause, which was patriarchy.
FWCC said the patriarchal structures in the country gave men so many privileges and a sense of entitlement that they continued to do this to women.
“Let us not be misled by police and we also expect more informed reporting from the Fiji media and not regurgitation of police sentiments.
“It is very misleading and harmful. For these two cases where alcohol was a contributing factor, there were many other cases reported to us last week where alcohol was not a factor.”
The organisation has urged everyone to work together in line with the principles and ethics defined in the National Action Plan to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
“The security forces, including police, and the media are major stakeholders in the plan.”
