Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu last week called for a parliamentary public inquiry into Fiji’s domestic violence response, warning that current mechanisms may be falling short of the mark.
Speaking after the Minister for Women provided Parliament an update on the first Pacific CEDAW Technical Cooperation Session that was hosted in Suva, Mr Seruiratu questioned whether the systems in place to tackle domestic violence were truly “fit for purpose” and whether key actors implementing the law understood the root causes of abuse.
“Are our national efforts coordinated or is everyone doing their own thing?”
“The time is now.”
He said the country must do more, including engaging men and boys in the national conversation.
“Those are the critical questions that can be answered through a public inquiry by Parliament.”
Mr Seruiratu also stressed that education was the fastest route out of poverty and a powerful enabler for gender equality.
Citing growing female participation in traditionally male-dominated sectors like livestock agriculture, he said, “That is what education brings.”
He urged men to support women’s educational advancement, referencing statistics that showed women now make up a majority of scholarship recipients and tertiary graduates.
On economic empowerment, Mr Seruiratu echoed the sentiment of the IFAD president Alvaro Lario: “You develop a man, you develop an individual. You develop a woman, you develop a community.”
Mr Seruiratu said there needs to be more women in leadership.
