Training and educational platforms are essential in improving the skills and knowledge of service providers, playing a critical role in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls across diverse communities. This statement was made by Lynda Tabuya, the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, during the certificate presentation for 42 participants of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre’s (FWCC) 44th Flagship Regional Training Program.
The focus of this year’s program was on issues related to Gender, Violence Against Women and Girls, and Human Rights and Development. Tabuya praised FWCC Coordinator Shamima Ali and her team for their commitment to addressing significant concerns surrounding gender-based violence and human rights. She emphasized that FWCC, being a founding member and secretariat of the Pacific Women’s Network Against Violence Against Women, consistently organizes such training initiatives to ensure that the challenges faced by Pacific women and girls are acknowledged, addressed, and their contributions valued in national and regional programs.
Ali stated that the training covered various topics, including rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment, child abuse, human rights laws, basic counseling techniques, advocacy, and lobbying. She noted that the primary goal is to eradicate all forms of violence against women and children in the Pacific Region. For this reason, the participants were strategically selected from institutions and organizations that actively combat these issues.
Participants engaged in discussions and analysis concerning the causes, contributing factors, prevalence, severity, and trends of violence against women, girls, and children within Pacific societies. Ali expressed optimism about the growing number of individuals committed to eradicating violence against women and girls who are applying to participate in such training programs.
The one-month Regional Training Program took place from July 29 to August 23 and was tailored to provide participants with the necessary knowledge and skills for effectively responding to and preventing all forms of violence against women and girls. Participants hailed from various civil society and government organizations across the region, including Samoa, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, West Papua, Nauru, and Fiji.