Labasa Women’s Crisis Centre

HISTORY

The Labasa Women’s Crisis Centre was formally established in 1995 through the dedication and commitment of a woman from Dreketi named Bimla Singh, along with other women.

Even before it was formally established, much work had gone into preparing the foundation through training, community talks and counselling sessions. The Centre’s roots goes back to four years before its registration, when Bimla and others attended the first national Conference Against Violence Against Women at Deuba in 1991.

For several years after that, they used Bimla’s home and telephone as their contact to counsel women, accompany them to court, conduct fundraising activities and give community and school talks. Today, the Labasa Women’s Crisis Centre is run as a collective, with full-time staff and volunteers and its own premises.

COLLECTIVE STATEMENT

The Labasa Women’s Crisis Centre is a branch of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. It is a multi-racial, non-government organisation committed to the betterment of women’s lives through collective efforts against violence. The Centre operates on the principle of EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN and is based on the conviction that women’s rights are human rights.

SEXUAL ASSAULT, CHILD ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT ARE VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN. The Labasa Women’s Crisis Centre is dedicated to the belief that no one has the right to inflict violence on a woman or child under any circumstances! We must work together to create a society where women and children can live without fear of violence.

SERVICES

Counselling and Support Services

• Free and confidential, non-judgmental crisis, counselling for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and sexual harassment.
• Legal advice.
• Accompanying clients or referral of clients to court, police stations, hospitals and other agencies upon request.
• Counselling services in Savusavu twice a month.
• Phone services available 8:30am – 3:30pm Monday – Friday on 8814609 / 9377784 (24 hours).
• 24-hour telephone counselling on phone number 3313300 / 9209470 (operated from Suva).
• Emotional support and options for clients to be able to make choices for themselves.

Community Education and Public Advocacy

• Talks, workshops and seminars on the issue of violence against women and children throughout Vanua Levu in Hindi, iTaukei and English.
• Lobbying for law reform (together with FWCC).
• Lobbying locally for women’s human rights.
• Organising and participating in international and national campaigns against violence against women and children.

Information Services

• The Labasa Women’s Crisis Centre opens its library services to members of the public who are looking for information on violence against women and children and related issues.
• Documenting the experiences of women and children who are survivors of violence.
• Collection of statistical data on violence against women and children.

Physical Address: Lot 3 Naiyaca Subdivision (Off Hospital Road)

Telephone: 881-4609 (24 hours)

Mobile: 937-7784 (24 hours)