The Minister of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar has strongly condemned the participation of Amenoni Nasilasila, who is not a warden but someone who is currently serving time in prison for rape, in yesterday’s Fiji Rugby Union Sanctioned 7s series for the Wardens Rugby Team.
Minister Akbar said "It is shocking that the Fiji Corrections Service team have even considered his participation. This is a continuous disregard of the law and in fact a mockery of the justice system in this country. Rape is a very serious crime and such privileges given to persons convicted of such a heinous crime is just not on. This has to stop. It sends the wrong message to the community."
The Ministry strongly condemns this and reiterates that any convicted person loses all benefits and freedom to participate till they have fully served their sentenced terms.
In this case, Nasilasila is still a convicted person and still serving a sentence.
The Ministry calls for the Commissioner of Fiji Corrections Service to immediately intervene and remove Nasilasila from any further involvement in rugby until he has completely served out his sentence.
Minister Akbar also said that issues as such seriously undermine the work of the Ministry in advocating for the protection of women and girls against gender-based abuse and sexual violence.
"The Ministry strongly disagrees with such treatment. It sends a wrong message to others in the community and is a slap on the face of all the good work that is being done by the Ministry, Civil Societies, NGOs and Religious Organisations who have been strongly advocating for ending sexual abuse and violence against our women and girls."