Fiji: Violence complaints not taken seriously

The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre says domestic violence complaints made by women are still not being taken seriously by the police.

Its coordinator, Shamima Ali, said there is complacency towards issuing and monitoring restraining orders, and perpetrators are continuing their abuse without being taken to task.

She said the Crisis Centre has run of gender-based violence awareness workshops with the police, but a lot more needs to be done.

“When women do complain, the police are not wanting to take down her statement. They are not wanting to give out the domestic violence restraining orders, which the legislation demands, that a form should be at every police station.

“Quite a few of them also were not aware prior to our training that actually they could put into effect the restraining order from the police station, so women are finding it very difficult being turned away from police stations and being told that they might be charged for giving false information against their husbands.

“Their husbands are also then coming and putting a counter claim. We have one case at the moment where she is still running around from pillar to post whereas his case, his accusation that she was violent, is already in court and it was done very, very swiftly.

“Also the things that are being said to the women. You know, sometimes even swearing and quite abusive language used against women, particularly when they are demanding their rights.

“And if there is a complaint against police officers, male police officers against their wives, again, a lot of tardiness in taking up in that complaint for the women.

Ali said the Crisis Centre has run a number of awareness workshops with the Fiji police and other groups.

“The workshop that we have had with the Fiji police only reached out to about 180 police officers from throughout Fiji, there are many more that still need that kind of awareness raising.

“So we definitely want to work with the crimes officers because they eventually make the decision to charge or not to charge, and also traditional leaders, the religious leaders, because these people have a lot of influence.

“A recent survey done by an organisation working with the police in the Pacific has shown that a lot of religious and traditional thinking and attitudes translate into behaviour that we see in the police –not only in Fji but around the Pacific.

“Also in very patriarchal societies where domestic violence is taken as a norm and a husband’s right.”

Ali said there needs to be a shift in the thinking about domestic violence in the police force and in society as a whole.

“There needs to be a major shift in the thinking and hopefully with the new police commissioner, we are getting some headway there, we will be able to do that.

“But society generally, and it has to come from the traditional system, from the villages, the rural areas, the leaders within that, and all those people need to come on board. They are coming on board, but it is with the authorities where we are falling down.

Ali said the Crisis Centre has taken its concerns to the new police commissioner, Ben Groenewald, who she says has been very receptive.