Many workshops organised by women’s organisations has seen generalized statements being made about men that they mistreat women, are sex predators and sometimes it is even said that men do not understand what women go through and condone violence.
At several workshops attended by Fijivillage, workshop coordinators often portray a negative image of men creating a perspective that all men are somehow involved in inflicting violence against women and children.
A regional training workshop is current underway being conducted by the Fiji Women's Crisis Center Executive Director Shamima Ali who had stated yesterday that women are taking on more responsibilities of men who are moving to towns to find work or they drink a lot of kava and alcohol and sleep all day.
Fijivillage questioned Ali on the matter who admitted that they do not have any statistics to prove this nor has there been any survey on the issue.
We asked whether it is fair to make generalized statements that men are doing this.
Fijivillage has also established that the Crisis center relies on a survey conducted in 1999 on domestic violence in Fiji and on a United Nations Report conducted in 1986 and these decade old stats are used to highlight the extent of domestic violence in Fiji and how men are helping to address the problem.
We questioned Ali on why they rely on 11 year old statistics and do not have recent survey figures to show the extent of domestic violence in Fiji.
She said they are now embarking on a new survey.
The crisis center also compiles monthly figures on the number of women who visit the center for assistance.
And while many are genuine cases, Ali agrees that there are women who are not genuine cases but are still dealt with by the center counselors.
Fijivillage has established that these stats are than posted on the Crisis Center website on a monthly basis, which include non-genuine cases which is used to brief donor agencies on the extent and effects of domestic violence.
Ali said they do believe that the mind set and attitude of men is changing towards domestic violence and the survey they are now undertaking would give a clear picture on the situation.
Story by: Roneel Lal and Vijay Narayan
