The Legal Literacy Trainings enables rural and remote communities in Fiji to have a clear understanding of the laws and legislations protecting human rights and accessing justice, legal services to eliminate discriminatory practices against women and children.
These capacity building trainings are facilitated by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation in collaboration with relevant stakeholders like Fiji Police Force, Director of the Public Prosecution (DPP’s Office), Legal Aid Commission and Judicial Department.
The Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni says that through the Legal Literacy trainings, people in rural areas are provided with information on the Domestic Violence Decree, Child Welfare Decree, Crimes Decree and CEDAW (Convention of the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women).
“Fiji is currently going through legal reforms to inculcate greater protection of women and children, as such Legal Literacy trainings are important in raising awareness and educating in particular women, about existing laws and accessing those legal services for protection of their rights”.
“The communities learn about services they can access in terms of addressing domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, accessing counseling services in marriage and family relations,” Dr Luveni said.
She said this initiative is aligned with government’s commitment to strengthen on women’s accessibility to justice and women’s human rights to be fully protected, as articulated in Women’s Plan of Action 2010 to 2019 (WPA) and Roadmap for Democracy Sustainable Socio-Economic Development (2010 to 2015).
The villages that have already been trained in legal literacy this year are Mualevu village in Lau, Qaranivai in Macuata, villages in Rakiraki district, Muanikoso women’s group, Nayavu in Wainibuka, Savudrodro in Cakaudrove along with villages in Serua, Nadroga and Navua.
Some of the communities earmarked for this training later during the year are Nabouwalu, Namau in Bua, Tavualevu village in Tavua and Korovou, Tailevu.
Dr Luveni said that as a result of this awareness, more people are now reporting cases of violence and abuse.
“This training complements, the Zero Tolerance Violence Free Community Campaign where community leaders, women and youth leaders and religious organizations all work together with relevant agencies, in creating violence free communities,” she added.
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