POLICE are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination before determining whether the killing of a woman on Thursday in Suva was a double homicide.
The family of Kitiana Baravilala confirmed she was six months pregnant and expecting her third child when she died.
The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) has expressed shock at the incident.
In a statement, FWCC questioned how many more women must suffer such a fate before the nation united to confront the root cause of violence against women and girls. Police confirmed Kitiana’s former husband was a suspect and was taken in for questioning on Thursday.
Highlighting the entrenched patriarchy within society as a major contributing factor, the FWCC urged a critical examination of male behaviour and societal responsibility.
FWCC emphasised perpetrators of violence were often individuals within close proximity, including neighbours, family members, and partners.
It stressed the need to address this as a systemic issue rather than attributing it to isolated incidents.
“Statistics reveal Fiji’s alarming domestic violence rates, with 64 per cent of women experiencing various forms of abuse,” it said.
FWCC is calling for an end to the taboo surrounding discussions on gender equality and discrimination, particularly in leadership circles.
While acknowledging the existence of a national prevention plan, it emphasised the need for concerted efforts to foster gender equality and respect for women’s rights across all community settings.
FWCC stressed that prevention was achievable through collective action and emphasised the importance of initiating change within homes and communities.
