 Established in 1992, the Ba Women’s Crisis Centre is funded by NZAID. Current funding resumed in July 2004 and will end in June 2005. The Centre is located on the western side of Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island. The service extends to the townships of Tavua, Vatukoula and Rakiraki including the surrounding villages and rural settlements. The Ba Women’s Crisis Centre is located at 5 Tabua Place and the Project officer is Wilma Eileen. The Postal address and telephone contact of the Centre is PO Box 3127, Ba and (679) 6670 466. The Centre opens from 8.30am-4pm, Monday-Friday. History: Concern at the huge increase of violent assaults against women in the Ba area
prompted the late Veena Singh, a social worker, to gain the support of women from the Soroptimist Club of Ba to meet in 1991 to discuss ways in which a crisis counseling service could be established to cater for the needs of women victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assaults.Through the help from the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre in Suva and resource persons from the area, a two-week training workshop was held for forty women in February 1992. This led to the establishment of a small group of women, working on a voluntary basis, who provided counseling to those in need. Later in 1992, an office with part-time staff was opened through the assistance of overseas donors and fundraising by the Soroptimist Club. Today, the Centre is run as a collective, with four full-time staff and volunteers. Collective Statement:
The Ba Women’s Crisis Centre is a branch of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. It is a multi-racial, non-government organization committed to the betterment of women’s lives through collective efforts against violence. The Centre operates on the principle of EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN and is based on the conviction that women’s rights are human rights. SEXUAL ASSAULT, CHILD ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT ARE VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN. The Ba Women’s Crisis Centre is dedicated to the belief that no one has the right to inflict violence on a woman or child under any circumstances! We must work together to create a society where women and children can live without fear of violence.
Services:
Counselling and Support Services - Free and confidential, non-judgmental counseling for victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and sexual harassment.
- Legal advice
- Accompanying or referral of clients to court, police stations, hospitals, and other agencies upon request.
- 24-hour telephone counseling on phone number 3313 300 (operating from Suva)
- Providing emotional support and options for clients to be able to make choices for themselves.
Community Education and Public Advocacy - Giving talks, running workshops and seminars (in collaboration with the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre) on the issues of Violence Against Women and Children.
- Lobbying for law reforms (together with FWCC) · Lobbying locally for women’s human rights · Organising and participating in International and National campaigns on Violence Against Women and Children
- Lobbying with Police, Social Welfare, Judiciary and welfare organizations for better support for victims of violence.
Information Services - The Ba Women’s Crisis Centre library services are open to members of the public who are looking for information on Violence Against Women and Children and other related issues.
- Documenting the experiences of women and children who are survivors of violence
- Statistical data on Violence Against Women and Children
Opening Hours - Monday-Friday 8.30am-4pm
How can you participate: - Talk about the problems of rape, child sexual assault, domestic violence and sexual harassment with your friends and family
- Support the work of the Ba Women’s Crisis Centre and lobby for reforms
- Find out more about violence against women (gender violence) and women’s rights
- Join the Ba Women’s Crisis Centre as a volunteer or in any capacity
- The Ba Women’s Crisis Centre always needs financial help and other support in the struggle for the rights of Ba women and children
Please support us where you can
Ba Women’s Crisis Centre,
PO Box 3127, Ba.
Flat 5- 5 Tabua Place, Ba . Phone/Fax: (679) 6670 466
Mon-Fri: 8.30am-4pm
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