The Attorney General and Minister for Justice Mr. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has announced that another workshop on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Decree 2009 will be held for relevant stakeholders in the interests of all women of Fiji.
“This decision is based on a letter I received from the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) requesting such a workshop in order to discuss the implementation of the decree, as the FWCC had varying opinions to its (the Decree’s) implementation,” he said.
Last month there was a public exchange of messages between Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum and FWCC Coordinator Shamima Ali.
The Attorney General had expressed concern then that FWCC remained ignorant on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Decree 2009 which came into effect from 1 December 2009
She said people were denied justice with the decree’s implementation since they had not been informed about the aspects of the Decree.
Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum confirms that former High Court Judge Madam Nazhat Shameem has agreed to chair the workshop.
An invitation has already been extended by the Attorney General to the Minister for Women and her Permanent Secretary, the Solicitor General, the DPP, the Chief Justice, the Chief Registrar, the Chief Magistrate, the Family Court Judge, the Commissioner of Police and representatives of all relevant non-government organisations for women.
“I request all the invitees to utilize this opportunity to the maximum in order to guarantee the women and children, especially those vulnerable to domestic violence in our society, the justice and proper assistance they need,” Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum stated.
A number of workshops on the Decree have already been conducted with various stakeholders including the Police, Prosecutors, NGO’s and the judiciary.
For further information do contact AG MLO Rachna Lal – rachna.lal@govnet.gov.fj