| National Meeting on Violence Against Women |
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More than 80 people from around Fiji will gather at JJs tomorrow to discuss the issue of violence against women in Fiji and find ways to work together to address this national concern. Organised by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, the national meeting on Violence Against Women will bring together various stakeholders including health, police, community-based and faith-based organizations, Provincial and Tikina Council members, youth and service providers to get a better understanding of the issue in Fiji and find ways to move forward at national and local level. This is the first time such varied stakeholders are being brought together at national level to discuss this issue.
Shamima Ali, Coordinator of FWCC outlines the purpose of the meeting as the following: · To improve the understanding of the dynamics of violence against women based on women’s experiences in Fiji · To get a better understanding of the role of the various service providers in Fiji · To develop strategies for the improved services and responses to victim/survivors of violence against women According to Ali, they are happy with the response to the meeting so far. “We have tried to accommodate all those who are interested as much as possible – we initially started with a target of 50 people and we will end up with approximately 80 people tomorrow,” said Ali. “The meeting is aimed at finding practical responses at community level that will have an impact at national level so the critical stakeholders are involved in the process”, said Ali. “We have participants such as religious representatives, turaga-ni- koros and civil society organizations who have all shown an interest and they will be in discussions with police officers, health workers and NGO representatives so forging these partnerships is really critical in moving the agenda forward nationally”, said Ali.
The meeting will be held over two days from 8-9 December at the JJs on the Park Conference Room.
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