The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement are urging the Coalition Government and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to retract the nomination of Pita Wise as Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan.
Shamima Ali, the Coordinator of the FWCC, emphasized that while the presumption of innocence should be respected, the nomination of an individual accused of sexual harassment highlights the normalization and minimization of sexual violence, even at the highest levels of government, where offenders are often rewarded.
Ali stated, “The nomination of a man accused of sexual harassment serves as a reminder of how sexual violence is accepted and downplayed, particularly among those in power who seem to face no consequences for their actions.”
Nalini Singh, Executive Director of the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, warned that inaction from leaders could lead to a culture where sexual harassment and violence remain prevalent against women and girls. She asserted that failure to act would deter survivors from coming forward with their complaints and emphasized the need for justice for victims.
Singh remarked, “If our leaders do nothing, they will nurture an environment that allows sexual harassment and other forms of violence to persist. The Prime Minister and the Government have professed support for gender equality, but their actions suggest otherwise.”