Education Minister Rosy Akbar [left] and Opposition MP Mosese Bulitavu

Labeling abuse with a painful stereotype and spreading stigma of violence on a public platform serves to silence victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

An emotional Education Minister Rosy Akbar while strongly condemning statements made by Opposition MP Mosese Bulitavu said instead of spreading stigma and stereotype , there is a need to tear them down.

Emotional Akbar while sharing her childhood experience in parliament yesterday says the culture of silence and violence needs to be broken.

“Violence against women is under-reported so that is what makes honorable member of opposition’s words more abhorrent. Women only report when they’ve been beaten multiple times on multiple occasions when they need to be hospitalized or are in danger of losing their lives.”

Akbar says victims don’t deserve the stereotype as violence affects their psychological and social well-being and development as the minister herself has experienced that being a victim of domestic abuse.

Bulitavu had made bigotry comments against Indo-Fijian women and highlighted that for i-Taukei, assaults on women were common, given their built.