Giving Compass' Take:

• Leah Rodriguez at Global Citizen highlights how Fiji is taking action to stop gender-based violence in the country.

• How can funders help promote the wellbeing of all people and create communities that are safe for all citizens?

• Here's an article on training leaders to help respond to gender-based violence. 

Fiji’s minister for women is drawing attention to the prevalence of gender-based violence in the country.

Mereseini Vuniwaqa shared alarming data at a meeting for gender-based violence national shelter guidelines on Tuesday, according to Fiji Village.

Fiji’s police force has recorded 1,545 cases of violence against women in 2020, including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, infanticide, and physical assault. Law enforcement recorded another 99 cases of sexual offenses and 1,644 cases of crimes against women and reported that children were the victims of 573 crimes.

Fiji’s government is currently working to introduce the National Action Plan (NAP) to Prevent Violence Against all Women and Girls (2021-2026). The plan would make Fiji the first country in the Pacific, and one of two countries globally, to have an inclusive and evidence-based strategy to prevent gender-based violence, the government claims.

Through NAP, Fiji’s government aims to address the root causes of gender-based violence and other factors that perpetuate the abuse of women. The plan will first focus on promoting domestic violence education and awareness, then train first responders to handle complaints, and, lastly, launch support groups for survivors.

Vuniwaqa has emphasized the need to make safe houses a priority and stressed the role that safe houses play in creating hope for victims.

“There is no doubt that the action to stop violence against women and girls in Fiji must be taken now, and it must happen in full force and through every possible avenue,” she said.

Read the full article about stopping gender-based violence in Fiji by Leah Rodriguez at Global Citizen.