Fiji may not experience wars, but it is not in a state of peace, says former trade union leader of Fiji and the Pacific and retired educator Susana Tuisawau.
Speaking at the inaugural IWPG Peace Conference Program held over the weekend in Suva, Ms Tuisawau highlighted that the idea of peace and the significance of peacebuilding have not received adequate attention in this nation.
“I have observed that today there has not been any serious attention specifically directed by Government, civil society organisations, schools, churches, and the private sector towards an organised or systematic sustained approach that is consistent to offer peace education to the people of all ages and in all sectors in Fiji,” she remarked while explaining four essential points regarding the notion of peace.
She noted that the issue arises from the misunderstanding that, since there are no wars in Fiji or neighbouring Pacific nations, people assume we are peaceful.
“That is why there has not been any organised program consistently offered to people here in Fiji on peace education. So, they say in the Pacific, we already have peace and there is no threat from our Pacific neighbours, hence there is no need for peace education here.
“Now, this is the wrong concept of peace because peace is not just the absence of war, conflict, or armed conflict.
Recently, she said, they were informed by the Minister for Women that as of now, there is a high number of reported cases of child abuse in Fiji, including incidents of violence and sexual exploitation of children from January to the present.
“To make it worse, Fiji is among the few countries with the highest record of domestic violence in the world per capita. That is horrible.”
“Further, we now have a very high incidence of youths being challenged by problems relating to drugs, substance abuse, alcohol, suicide, crime, pornography, teenage pregnancy, STDs, and unemployment, and not to mention rising cases of human trafficking.
“So, I’m afraid Fiji does not have peace. It may not have wars, but you may as well call us as being under attack with all these problems.”
