The Zero Tolerance initiative by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation has been reaping rewards in communities where it has been implemented.
Minister Dr Jiko Luveni said statistics provided by the Fiji Police Force has seen overwhelming response in the forty five(45) communities and villages that have been declared Zero Tolerance Violence Free.
Citing statistics and figures, Dr Luveni said not only has there been a decrease in domestic violence but there “crime rate in these villages and communities have also decreased a lot.”
“This is the main purpose of the Zero Tolerance and Violence Free Community initiative that started last year,” she said.
She added that the programme also provided empowerment within homes and villages.
“There are gatekeepers (monitoring committee elected by the village) and this committee monitors the events in the villages. The committees include men, women and youths so there are a lot of ideas being thrown around and the result leads to better living and happy families,” Dr Luveni said.
“One of the main reason also that the committee is elected from the villages is to increase that sense of ownership and empower villagers into leading roles.
“That is the key component of this initiative. Youths, women and men are now able to speak their minds in meetings for the betterment of the village communities. It gives them a sense of ownership and empowers them to lead.”
The Ministry has targeted sixty (60) communities for 2013 with 45 already declared as violence free.
Meanwhile, Waikubukubu Village in Nadarivatu is the latest to have acquired commitment status.
“Villages and communities that have been declared are also provided with other awareness programmes, self – help and income generating projects because it is all part of building a better Fiji for all,” Dr Luveni said.
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