Image: Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre
Violence against women is a global problem. It is happening now, and is happening at an alarmingly high rate in many places. Despite this, vast differences exist in the ways that authorities and the public respond to it.
In Pacific Island countries it is easier, in my view, for a man who abuses a woman to get away with it, including in my own island home of Fiji. Surveys in the Pacific have shown that the incidence of domestic violence is approaching the worst in the world. More than 60 per cent of women and girls have experienced violence. (http://bit.ly/1Js54SB)
Even the most strong, intelligent, independent women struggle to break free from abusive relationships. Despite being victims, it is invariably considered to be their responsibility to do something about it. But what about the violent male abuser? What happens when such a crime is repeated and the perpetrators are not discouraged by intervention of the police? In Fiji, the police have become somewhat more conscientious about responding to domestic violence complaints in recent years. However, their response is mostly to attend the scene, ensure that everything is calmed down, and nothing further happens to the violent perpetrator until the next time – when the police are called again and the same thing happens.
Pacific women live in strongly patriarchal societies, where men are privileged and communities condone male control of women. In Fiji, village customs and laws control how women dress and cut their hair (no trousers or shorts, they must have a sulu skirt covering their legs and no long hair). Men have no such restrictions. Whilst everyone is expected to follow community norms and behave respectfully to those in authority, women are specifically controlled in a way that men are not.
Many people, especially those in traditional communities, wrongly believe that men are entitled to ‘discipline’ women. This attitude is inculcated in young boys and passed on from generation to generation, continuing a cycle of violence that haunts generations of women and girls. Religion also often plays a huge role in which subservience to men is expected of ‘traditional’ women.
I have lost two friends in one year to domestic violence. Just recently, a Fijian journalist and feminist was killed by her partner. Last year, another feminist postgraduate student was murdered by her husband because she told him that she was leaving their home.
The horrific violence and abuse of those who experience it continues to be hidden and invisible, behind closed doors. Secrecy and shame about domestic and family violence is part of the problem of why it continues.
I have seen, through the deaths of my friends, that knowing is not enough. There has to be far stronger efforts to change people’s attitudes to violence, through policies, procedures and laws. Certainly, through supporting more committed women into leadership to make necessary societal change at all levels. The excuses have to stop. Violence is never the answer. We need to speak up! We mustn’t stop speaking out to end violence against women.