Alcohol is not an excuse – FWCC

22 Apr, 2024

The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre is greatly saddened by the tragedy of a bystander being killed while intervening in a domestic violence incident.

He acted as a good citizen should but unfortunately lost his life. We send our condolences to his family.

We still encourage bystander intervention by taking appropriate safety precautions like calling the police or the domestic violence toll-free line 1560.

We are also dismayed at the reporting by Police and the media that is still blaming everything else for the violence against women and girls and totally ignoring the main cause which is patriarchy – the patriarchal structures that give men so many privileges and a sense of entitlement that they can continue to do this to women and be excused.

The consumption of alcohol is a contributing factor to violence against women and girls and is not the cause. It is never an excuse. Let us not be misled by Police and we also expect more informed reporting from the Fiji media and not regurgitation of police sentiments. It is very misleading and harmful. For these two cases where alcohol was a contributing factor, there were many other cases reported to us last week where alcohol was not a factor.

Let us all work together in line with the principles and ethics defined in the National Action Plan to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

The security forces including Police and the media are major stakeholders in the plan.