Womens’ Minister Rosie Akbar believes empowering women is the best means of putting an end to domestic violence.
Akbar, while speaking at a public seminar yesterday highlighted that many women choose to stay in abusive relationships because they lack the confidence and support to leave their partner.
The minister adds that 62% of women in Fiji have suffered intimate partner violence and in many instances, they are dependent on their abusers.
“We believe that empowering women, making them financially independent gives them a voice – a stand. This will assist us as a country to fight gender inequality which I believe is a cause of domestic violence.”
The womens’ ministry runs a number of community based projects imparting life skills to women, it also hosts an annual womens’ expo and promotes participation in small and micro businesses.
