National Meeting On Violence Against Women Concrete Plans

SUVA (18 Nov 2011) – A national meeting on the elimination of violence against women in Suva has agreed that while many advances have been made in bringing the issue to the fore, many challenges still remain.

The 100 participants from all over Fiji have come up with concrete plans for the next two years that includes actions they can take in their communities.

The National Network Meeting on the Elimination of Violence Against Women was organised by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and took place from November 15-18, 2011 at Studio 6 convention centre.

“Violence against women and children continues to be a major problem in our communities with emerging challenges including lack of recognition of the vulnerabilities of women with disabilities,” said Shamima Ali, coordinator of FWCC.

Discussions during the four-day meeting focussed on the role of service providers in responding to violence against women and various strategies targeted at preventative measures.

Among the outcomes from the meeting were improving counselling and support for survivors of violence, with special attention on developing a code of ethics for refuge homes. There was also a focus on women survivors of violence with disabilities.

Law and enforcement was also an issue raised, with the need for legal literacy on the Domestic Violence Decree and the Crimes Decree. A call was also made for continued support for police services such as the Sexual Offences Unit to ensure more easily accessible services for victim/survivors.

The participants also agreed that individuals must make a commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women and support the empowerment of women – and break the culture of silence surrounding violence against women.

It was also agreed that Provincial Councils and advisory councillors must be sensitised to gender-based violence to enable them to assist and encourage victims of violence to report their cases to the relevant authorities.

Men were encouraged to become male advocates for women human rights to help advance the status of women throughout the country.

A call was made on faith-based organisations to make a high-level commitment to end violence against women, and participants agreed they would encourage their own religious organisations to address the issue through their welfare services or religious programmes.

The participants agreed to consolidate their networking and to hold an annual network meeting through which they could monitor work being done nationally.

There is also an urgent need to extend work on eliminating gender-based violence to the maritime zones where the issue of violence has been acknowledged as a growing problem.

Resolutions Of The National Meeting On The Elimination On Violence Against Women

WE:
The Participants at the National Meeting on the Elimination of Violence against Women, held at Studio 6 Motel in Suva from 15-18 November 20111 deliberated and agreed that while we have made many advances in bringing the issue of violence against women to the forefront of the national agenda there still remain many challenges which we are faced with.

In Fiji, violence against women and children continues to be a major problem in our communities with emerging challenges including the lack of recognition of the vulnerabilities of women with disabilities.

The participants focused on the roles of service providers in responding to violence against women.

The participants also looked at various strategies targeted at preventative measures for the elimination of violence against women.

The participants are committed to the elimination of violence against women and call on relevant authorities to heed our concerns and we commit to carry out the following:

Protection And Support For Victim/Survivors Of Vaw

Counselling and Support

• That counselling services which are set up to deal with victims/ survivors recognise that violence against women is a result of gender inequalities and should be responded to from a rights-based framework.

• Advocate for faith based organizations which are strategically placed within the community to receive appropriate training and up-skilling in gender relations, violence against women and women’s human rights to ensure the empowerment of victims/survivors of VAW.

• Work towards the establishment of counselling and support services in rural areas to ensure accessibility for women in isolated communities.

• If and when reconciliation does take place it should be victim-centred with the aim of empowering victims and within the parameters of the law.

• That services which are provided by government are held accountable including the availability of welfare officers during times of emergencies.

Women with Disabilities

• Creating awareness on the vulnerability of women living with disabilities to physical and sexual violence and to support these victims.

• Ensure that support services address the needs of women and children living with disabilities.

• Call for more programs and services are inclusive of people with disabilities.

Law and Law Enforcement

• That awareness is raised on laws of violence against women including new pieces of legislation through legal literacy programs.

• Demand that laws relating to violence against women are enforced appropriately and within reasonable time frames.

• Lobby for the increased allocation of resources for the Police Force to respond effectively to cases of violence against women.

• Call for the continued support for Police services such as the Sexual Offences Units to ensure more easily accessible services for victims/ survivors.

• That more resources be allocated for legal aid services to ensure more accessible legal support for victims/ survivors in need.

• Lobby for a speedy and sensitive process for victims/ survivors accessing the justice system.

Shelters and Emergency Accommodation

• That shelters that are set up to accommodate women and children who are victim/ survivors of violence against women have appropriate standards and meet minimum requirements. This should be supported by the drafting of Ethical Standards and appropriate modes of operation.

• That shelters and refuges respect the rights of residents and encourage an empowering and safe environment for all those staying within these institutions

• That emergency accommodation and support services take into account the physical needs of the diverse groups ensuring that they are accessible and have adequately trained personnel to deal with these special needs.

• That shelters which are sanctioned by government are held accountable to ensure appropriate delivery of their services.

Prevention of Violence Against Women

Individual and Community Responses

• Make a personal commitment to have a zero tolerance approach to violence against women and support the empowerment of women.

• Strengthen awareness on violence against women, gender relations and human rights in communities

• Call on Provincial Councils to join in efforts to eliminate violence against women and make a commitment to support work in this area.

• Build the capacity of Provincial Council Officers and Advisory Councillors to enable them to assist and encourage victims of violence to report cases of violence against women to relevant authorities and take appropriate actions.

• Encourage the participation of young people in programs ensuring their empowerment and avenues for breaking the silence on the violence perpetrated against them and in their homes.

• Encourage youth groups from all ethnic backgrounds to start addressing the issues of violence against women.

• Explore the new strategies such as the use of creative arts to communicate messages against violence against women

• Encourage discussion and awareness on the elimination of violence against women during sporting activities.

• Encourage awareness sessions targeted at the elimination of violence against women at village, settlement and Tikina and district level.

• Strengthen the male advocacy program at all levels throughout the country.

• That community policing programs which disseminate information about the issue of violence against women be encouraged and supported through adequate resourcing in particular to extend to the rural and isolated areas.

Faith-Based Organisations

• Call on faith-based organisations for a high-level commitment to end violence against women.
• Encourage our own religious organisations to address violence against women in a gender-sensitive manner whether through welfare services or religious programmes.

Networking and Coordination

• Consolidate Fiji’s National Network on the Elimination of Violence against Women

• Hold an Annual National Network meeting on Violence Against Women to monitor the work that is being done on violence against women in Fiji

• Support efforts to extend work on the elimination of violence against women to the maritime zone.

• Continue the process of information sharing on best practice models and lessons learned to facilitate effective programs in the country

• Lobby for the allocation of adequate resources by government, development partners and funding agencies.

18 November, 2011
Studio 6, Suva, Fiji

ENDS

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