SUVA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Fiji Women's Crisis Center will hold a candlelight vigil on Monday in Suva to remember the eight women who have lost their lives to domestic violence this year.
According to the Fiji Women's Crisis Center, eight women in Fiji have lost their lives to domestic violence and as of June this year, there have been 295 cases of domestic violence in Fiji.
In Fiji, 64 percent of women experience intimate partner violence and according to the Fiji Women's Rights Movement 2017 research, it takes women over 2.5 years to report their issues of violence.
In the most recent incident, two sisters lost their lives three months apart from domestic violence, leaving their families heart broken.
Fiji Women's Crisis Center (FWCC) Coordinator Shamima Ali said it was tragic and sad that young women were losing their lives.
She said despite 35 years of raising awareness on domestic violence, the situation did not seem to be improving in Fiji. She urged the Fijian society not to accept this type of behaviour.
Earlier reports stated that five women died in Fiji as a result of domestic violence last year, according to FWCC.
Ali said violence against women continued to take a toll and while five allegedly died at the hands of their husbands or partners, many others were left seriously injured in 2018.
Ali said the work to end violence against women in Fiji achieved several milestones despite challenges, but more work was needed to help women.
FWCC also received reports of at least 46 child sexual abuse cases in 2018. Ali said there is a great need for all agencies and personnel working for eliminating violence to be on the same page and align with global best practice.
In 2017, Fiji launched a domestic violence toll-free helpline, in hope of reducing domestic violence against women in the country with a population of more than 900,000.
