A new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed between the Fiji Police Force and the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation in November this year.
Minister, Hon. Rosy Akbar says this would enable a strengthened collaboration to safeguard the rights and interests of women and children in Fiji.
“My Ministry is progressing with an MOU with the Fiji Police Force to ensure that the force is equipped and ready to respond to the survivors of domestic violence. It will mean continuous upskilling programs for police officers so that there is standard operating procedures at all police posts and stations alike.
“By mid-November this year, we will sign this MOU. A scheduled monitoring and evaluation too will be included so that service quality will be assured at all times. There will be similarity of responses wherever the geography is and will be a boost to our standards of service to affected women. We are working closely with the enforcement agencies to ensure that cases concerning women are addressed with urgency,” Minister Akbar said.
Minister Akbar said that the Ministry through its Interagency Taskforce on Elimination of Violence against Women will be organising the 16 Days of Activism campaign next month.
“The Ministry will continue to work with institutions are responsible for the implementation of national laws, policies supported by Non-Government Organisations, Faith Based Organisations and Civil Society Organizations through advocacy and raise consciousness through grassroots mobilization, reaching out to schools, young people and the larger pubic through the media.
“During the 16 days of Activism which will be commemorated from the 25th November to 10th December the Ministry will conduct awareness campaigns throughout Fiji to raise awareness on the need for communities to work together in advancing the empowerment of women in Fiji.
“The Taskforce is also working on the establishment of a National Service Protocol that would increase collaboration between all the service providers like Fiji Police, Ministry of Women, and the Ministry of Health to ensure the appropriate provision of health care services, timely investigations of reports on domestic violence, timely prosecution of cases and counselling support services are provided,” Minister Akbar said.