The government is being urged to allocate resources to the Online Safety Commission. This call to action was made by John Apted, a litigation partner at Munroe Ley Lawyers, during his presentation on ‘Breaking Barriers: Increasing Female Participation in Local Government Elections in Fiji’ at Tanoa Plaza on Tuesday evening.
Mr. Apted highlighted that social media poses significant challenges to women’s participation in politics. He pointed out that traditional media has diminished in influence, while social media has become a hostile environment. “Fiji’s social media landscape is particularly harsh, sexist, and destructive towards women and the LGBTQ+ community, who often find themselves targeted and ridiculed,” he remarked.
He noted that platforms like Chat Fiji frequently share personal and intimate images without consent, creating a chilling effect that discourages women from engaging in public life. Despite existing legislation designed to hold perpetrators accountable, Mr. Apted lamented the lack of government support in enforcing these laws.
He stressed the importance of investing in online safety through funding, staffing, and public awareness initiatives. “This issue requires immediate focus if we want to empower women to participate more actively in public roles,” he asserted.
Apted encouraged women to voice their concerns to the government and advocate for the necessary investments to improve online safety, which he believes could facilitate their entry into the political arena.