We stand with you, we believe you, and we are here to support you
18 Jun, 2026
The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre condemns the wave of misogynistic and victim-blaming comments circulating online following rape charges brought against two prominent soccer players.
Coordinator Shamima Ali says the Centre stands firmly with the women who have shown immense courage in reporting rape and sexual assault, despite the many layers of hostility, intimidation, and disbelief they continue to face.
“We stand with you, we believe you, and we are here to support you. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please call the Free National Domestic Violence Helpline 1560, available 24/7 and free to call from any network. Any woman, girl, or child can reach out to us. You are not to blame for the rape committed,” said Ali.
“Every time you blame a rape survivor, you contribute to a culture that protects perpetrators and silences survivors. Rape is never caused by what a person wears, where they go, who they associate with, or how they choose to live their lives. The responsibility for rape lies solely with the perpetrator.”
Rape is an act of violence using sex on a woman’s body. It is a humiliating and degrading act committed on their bodies.
Ali says this situation is occurring in a context where reporting sexual violence is already extremely difficult for women and girls in Fiji.
“Research consistently shows that sexual violence is one of the most underreported crimes in Fiji and globally,” she said. “Survivors face multiple barriers to reporting, including fear of not being believed, fear of social stigma, shame, trauma, and lack of trust in the justice system. Many survivors delay reporting for years or never report at all because of anticipated backlash.”
She adds that evidence from the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre shows that in Fiji, the majority of perpetrators are not strangers, but people known to the survivor often intimate partners or family members.
“In many cases, perpetrators are within the same household, which adds layers of fear, pressure, and silence around disclosure,” she said.
“This is the reality survivors are navigating even before they make a complaint: fear of retaliation, fear of breaking family structures, fear of being disbelieved, and fear of being publicly shamed. Social media rape apology and victim-blaming directly reinforce these barriers.”
The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre urges the public to allow the legal process to take its proper course and to refrain from commentary that shames or blames survivors.
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