With the Domestic Violence Decree now in place in Fiji, the term 'domestic violence' has been clearly defined in the decree.

This has been done for the first time and it deals with who the victims may be in a case and how authorities should react to a case of domestic violence.

According to the new law, Domestic Violence also covers threat of injury or sexual abuse.

Under the decree, domestic violence in relation to any person means violence against that person committed, directed or undertaken by a person with whom the victim is, or has been, in a family or domestic relationship.

Violence under the decree means physical injury or threatening physical injury, sexual abuse or threatening sexual abuse, damaging or threatening to damage property of a victim, threatening, intimidating or harassing, persistently behaving in an abusive, cruel, inhumane, degrading, provocative or offensive manner.

It also covers people causing the victim apprehension or fear by following the victim, loitering outside a workplace or other place frequented by the victim, entering or interfering with a home or place occupied by the victim or interfering with the property of the victim.

The decree also ensures proceedings are speedy, inexpensive and simple and the need to ensure that the victims should remain in their homes.

It is also made clear that each police officer must when an incident of domestic violence is reported, respond in a timely way, investigate and render such assistance as is reasonable in the circumstances of the victim.

It also stated that a police officer must make an application for a restraining order where the perpetrator has been charged or where a police officer believes or suspects that an offence under the decree has been committed, is being committed, is imminent or is likely to be committed.

Fijivillage took to the streets today and people are saying that they are happy that domestic violence has been recognised as an offence.

They also hope that the authorities concerned take stringent action against the perpetrators involved in domestic violence.