The sidelining of cultural leadership and way of life over the past years were some factors contributing to violence among young people.
Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali said there was a need for an open dialogue on the issue.
“There is a need for more open dialogues to address the increase of violence by young people on the streets,” Ms Ali said.
“I would look at the disenfranchisement of the youth and particularly those in the lower socio-economic bracket and the indigenous.
“We need to have deeper open and honest and difficult dialogue around those with local expertise and the civil society organisations (CSO).
“Its not as simplistic as that.
“This issue needs deeper thinking consultation and research. She claimed brutality’s becoming the norm over the years have been some of the contributing factors to youth violence.
“The past few years have seen very poor and draconian governance at national level where violence discourses any settling of disputes violently and State brutality have become the norm and draconian laws being enacted.”
