SEVENTY-SIX per cent of men aged 18 to 35 believe a husband has the right to “discipline” his wife, compared with 59 per cent of older men, the 2025 SCORE survey has found.
The survey also found that 57 per cent of young women shared the view, highlighting concerns over the continued acceptance of violence among younger generations.
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran said the findings demonstrated the importance of addressing harmful attitudes early, particularly among adolescent boys and young men.
She made the remarks at the Pacific Islands Health Research Symposium High-Level Dialogue at Fiji National University’s Nasinu Campus.
The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection has developed a Gender-Based Violence Community Awareness Manual to support prevention work in communities.
Ms Kiran said the manual provided culturally responsive guidance for discussions on respectful relationships, early intervention and harmful gender norms. It was also being used to encourage community conversations and promote zero tolerance of gender-based violence.
She said preventing violence required greater attention to the home, where children developed attitudes and behaviours that could shape their relationships later in life.
Positive, non-violent parenting was critical, she said, warning that children exposed to violent discipline could come to regard aggression as normal.
The ministry has begun targeted programs with adolescent boys to challenge harmful attitudes during their formative years.
Ms Kiran said early intervention was needed to prevent these attitudes from becoming entrenched, with the ministry also working with faith-based organisations, including Caritas Fiji.
