Domestic violence remains a major concern for the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and the government.

According to a National Survey by FWCC, more than 60 percent of women who have been in intimate relationships have experienced physical or sexual violence from their partners.

Coordinator, Shamima Ali says the organization intends to visit maritime islands this year to tackle the issue of domestic violence.

“So we will be doing some community mobilization, awareness and setting up communities in various district so that they themselves can take some responsibility and start responding themselves and start doing awareness themselves.”

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Women and Children Dr. Josefa Koroivueta says the government is working with relevant stakeholders and has undertaken progressive work.

“We will need to do much more than what we have done, I know we have started to shake the platform for which the patriarchal society has strongly rooted about the issues of gender equalities and we will need to make a big impact on changing the gender mind sets.”

The ministry plans to strengthen the governance mechanism this year that they have for all women and will push for gender and social inclusiveness.