FEAR of stigmatisation and retaliation is preventing many sex workers in Fiji from reporting incidents of abuse, according to Strumphet Alliance Network country coordinator Sophie Radrodro.
Ms Radrodro said this left them vulnerable to exploitation and harm.
“The lack of clear legal protection means that sex workers often do not report violence or abuse for fear of arrest or further victimisation,” Ms Radrodro said.
In response to queries from this newspaper, she said access to justice for sex workers in Fiji was limited.
“Many face stigma and discrimination from law enforcement, which discourages them from seeking help.”
She said police sometimes failed to take complaints of sex workers’ seriously and at times exploited the vulnerabilities of sex workers.
“The lack of specialised training for law enforcement on issues related to sex work exacerbates the problem, leading to a justice system that is ill-equipped to handle cases involving sex workers fairly.”
She said there was a need for policies and programs to be put in place to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of sex workers.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Mesake Waqa said all victims of crime were treated equally by police.
Mr Waqa said reports were handled on a case-by-case basis after assessing the elements of offence.
