FIJI began its annual 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women yesterday with a clear and urgent warning from government leaders: violence against women and girls is not a private matter – it is a national crisis.
The leaders said the next 16 days must serve as a period of serious reflection and accountability for a country in which the statistics remain among the highest in the world.
Nearly two of every three women in Fiji who have been in a relationship have experienced physical or sexual violence. One in six reported being sexually abused as a child, and in 95 per cent of those cases, the perpetrator was a trusted family member or friend.
“This violence cuts across every age group, every community, and its impacts are devastating,” the statement read.
It said violence against women and girls drained millions of dollars from the national coffers through lost workdays, medical treatment, legal processes, and long-term social impacts.
The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the Fiji National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against All Women and Girls, the first of its kind in the Pacific and only the second worldwide.
The plan is a fully funded, whole-of-government strategy designed to prevent violence before it occurs. Key actions include trauma-informed police training, strengthened enforcement of the no-drop policy, revival of the male advocacy program within the RFMF, and new efforts to address cyberbullying and online abuse.
Civil society, faith-based groups, and community leaders were acknowledged as vital partners in reaching survivors, shifting attitudes, and providing frontline services.
The Government is urging Fijians to challenge harmful norms, report abuse and support a united push toward a violence-free country.
