Police Cautioned About Using Religion To Justify Violence

Police Cautioned About Using Religion To Justify Violence Against Women

NADI (26 May 2016) -- Men-focused interpretation of religious texts to justify violence against women remains a challenge to effectively responding to the issue and police officers need to be able to recognise this.

The statement was made by facilitator Tevita Seruilumi during a workshop for the Western Division’s top-ranking police officers at Hexagon Hotel in Nadi today.

The weeklong training facilitated by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and funded by UNDP is aimed at creating awareness among senior officers of gender, violence against women, human rights and the applicable laws.

Mr Seruilumi conducted a training session with the 26 officers examining how religious interpretations often create barriers for survivors of violence to access justice.

During the session, participants discussed how often women who sought counselling or help from churches and faith-based groups were discouraged from leaving their violent partners or accessing support services.

“Many times survivors are told to forgive the perpetrator or that it was only a rough patch in the marriage,” Mr Seruilumi, a lawyer, told the police officers.

The session focused on traditional Christian teachings including that of forgiveness and how this concept was abused by perpetrators of violence to avoid criminal charges.

“It is not the duty of police officers to counsel women to forgive their violent husbands.”

Another tension between the law and Christian teaching stems from the notion of women’s equality within relationships and within the church.

“The perception that women are subservient to men in relationships and within the church is still rife in many communities in the Pacific,” Mr Seruilumi said.

The FWCC training challenges men’s justification of inequality and its justifications. Making many references to the Bible, the participants examined scriptures that promote equality, love and fairness.

The police officers engaged in a lively discussion that questioned interpretations of men as the supposed head of the household and the responsibilities that came with it.

Participants acknowledged that many messages are often focused around women’s being submissive rather than looking at the Bible in a holistic way to promote equal dignity and respect for everyone.

Police were reminded that advocating for women’s equality is fundamental to addressing violence against women.

The weeklong workshop ends tomorrow, when Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is expected to close it at 2pm.

ENDS

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