Government will strengthen the Zero Tolerance Violence Free Community (ZTVFC) program this year in its bid to see the declaration of eight more communities as violence-free.

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, the program embarks on a series of campaigns and awareness programs to communities around the country in advocating the rights of women and children, creating awareness of legal services, and bridging information gaps between the public and government services and assistance.

“A consultant will be hired to review the zero tolerance violence free program and apart from the 8 communities for declaration, 16 other communities will be identified and awarded through this program,” said Dr Jiko Luveni, head of the Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation ministry.

The communities to be declared for ZTVFC are Waikete and Nasau villages in Tailevu, Natalacake village in Ba, Batinikama village in Labasa, Serea in Naitasiri, Tavuki village in Kadavu, Nabouwalu settlement in Bua and Navakai settlement in Nadi along with Korotogo in Sigatoka.  

Korotogo Womens Group president Mrs Verenaisi Kacavou revealed that since the start of the program, there have not been any reports of violence in their community.

“We are looking forward for the day when our village is declared as a violence free program. We thank the ministry (of Social Welfare, Women & Poverty Alleviation) and the police especially in facilitating workshops and awareness on the Crimes Decree, Domestic Violence Decree and Child Welfare Decree”, Mrs Kacavou said.

“We have developed a violence free committee that is a gatekeeper in ensuring that no violence is tolerated in Korotogo village. Everyone now understands their role in creating a violence free community”, the group’s president said.

The ZTVFC program has encouraged members of the communities to look after each other, in particular it motivates men to look after the welfare of women and children in their villages.

Sharing similar views, Mr Veleki Railau, turaga-ni-koro for Korotogo said that his village “intends to spread the message of a violence free community to all the nearby villages and we take pride to cultivate peace and harmony into the hearts and minds of everyone in korotogo village.

A total of $80,000 has been allocated in the Ministry for Women’s budget for the ZTVFC Program.

The Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children is one of the key components of the Women’s Plan of Action (2010 to 2019), a ten year guide plan for government on advancing women issues.

Government will strengthen the Zero Tolerance Violence Free Community (ZTVFC) program this year in its bid to see the declaration of eight more communities as violence-free.

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, the program embarks on a series of campaigns and awareness programs to communities around the country in advocating the rights of women and children, creating awareness of legal services, and bridging information gaps between the public and government services and assistance.

“A consultant will be hired to review the zero tolerance violence free program and apart from the 8 communities for declaration, 16 other communities will be identified and awarded through this program,” said Dr Jiko Luveni, head of the Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation ministry.

The communities to be declared for ZTVFC are Waikete and Nasau villages in Tailevu, Natalacake village in Ba, Batinikama village in Labasa, Serea in Naitasiri, Tavuki village in Kadavu, Nabouwalu settlement in Bua and Navakai settlement in Nadi along with Korotogo in Sigatoka.

Korotogo Womens Group president Mrs Verenaisi Kacavou revealed that since the start of the program, there have not been any reports of violence in their community.

“We are looking forward for the day when our village is declared as a violence free program. We thank the ministry (of Social Welfare, Women & Poverty Alleviation) and the police especially in facilitating workshops and awareness on the Crimes Decree, Domestic Violence Decree and Child Welfare Decree”, Mrs Kacavou said.

“We have developed a violence free committee that is a gatekeeper in ensuring that no violence is tolerated in Korotogo village. Everyone now understands their role in creating a violence free community”, the group’s president said.

The ZTVFC program has encouraged members of the communities to look after each other, in particular it motivates men to look after the welfare of women and children in their villages.

Sharing similar views, Mr Veleki Railau, turaga-ni-koro for Korotogo said that his village “intends to spread the message of a violence free community to all the nearby villages and we take pride to cultivate peace and harmony into the hearts and minds of everyone in korotogo village.

A total of $80,000 has been allocated in the Ministry for Women’s budget for the ZTVFC Program.

The Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children is one of the key components of the Women’s Plan of Action (2010 to 2019), a ten year guide plan for government on advancing women issues.