The Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar yesterday visited the women safe shelter in Natabua, Lautoka.
The shelter will provide a temporary safe environment for women and their children in crisis as a result of family violence and abuse.
Minister Akbar said the facility will offer a welcoming space where residents can feel safe and comfortable, and access the support programs and services, including counseling, and a children's shelter. “The shelter will provide women and their children access to safe housing temporarily as they secure the support they need to help them start a life free of violence”.
"We should alert the right authorities on the cases of domestic violence and speak about it so that we can minimise the alarming statistics on domestic violence and sexual offences against women and children," she added.
Minister Akbar stated that “The Fijian Government has established the Domestic Violence Act and reforms in the Crimes Act to better address the gaps in addressing gender based violence and provides for justice for survivors and for the rehabilitation and punishment of perpetrators. We have funded the operations of a toll free helplines to make reporting easier.
I encourage the use of our Child Helpline 1325 and Domestic Violence Helpline 1560, whereby callers are assisted through a referral system for cases of violence and abuse against women and children".
The women’s safe shelter in Natabua is the first Government safe shelter for women after Soroptimist South West Pacific handed over the building to the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation in March 2021.