More women, including those from Fiji’s remoter islands, are calling in to report abuse after the launch of a toll-free domestic violence hotline this week.

The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre said about 40 new callers had rung the 24-hour hotline since Wednesday’s launch, many of them from the maritime division.

The centre has run a hotline for more than 30 years but it now, also, had a toll free line after a deal struck with Fiji’s phone companies and the government.

The Crisis Centre’s Shamima Ali said there were about 20 new callers a week previously so a free calling number is obviously making a difference.

“We’re already getting calls from the maritime areas which is a really good thing because that is where the outreach is the least and also the national survey on intimate partner violence indicates that the Eastern Division which is mostly made up of the maritime areas has highest prevalence rates.”

Fiji Women Crisis Centre Co-ordinator Shamima Ali shares her extensive experience and knowledge from working to end violence against women and girls. Photo: Supplied / UN Women

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/326336/toll-free-hotline-attracting-more-calls-from-remote-fiji