THE Fiji Police Force will conduct practical simulation exercises at all 37 stations to strengthen officers’ response to gender-based violence and enforce revised protocols.
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran said the exercises would help translate the revised protocol into consistent action across the country.
Speaking at the Pacific Islands Health Research Symposium High-Level Dialogue at Fiji National University’s Nasinu Campus last week, Ms Kiran said the protocol established shared standards across health, policing, legal aid and child protection.
“This revised Service Delivery Protocol on gender-based violence is a major step forward,” she said.
Ms Kiran said the protocol also recognised the evolving nature of abuse and equipped services to respond to technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including online harassment, cyberstalking and sextortion.
She said violence was always a choice made by the perpetrator, but preventing it required action beyond law enforcement.
“However, prevention means we must also strengthen family livelihoods, food security, and social resilience.”
She said the Government was enforcing strict accountability within its own institutions, with the Ministries of Civil Service and Defence implementing zero-tolerance policies.
“National security institutions must lead by example in protecting human security.”
Ms Kiran said policies and plans were only as good as their implementation.
“Our responsibility now is to ensure these frameworks are fully embedded, fully resourced, properly monitored, and experienced by survivors as real improvements in safety, dignity, and justice.”
Ms Kiran called for collaboration among community leaders, civil society, faith-based and traditional leaders, youth and educational institutions to prevent violence before it occurred.
