The government must allocate resources to the Online Safety Commission, according to John Apted, a litigation partner at Munroe Ley Lawyers. He made this statement while addressing the event titled “Breaking Barriers: Increasing Female Participation in Local Government Elections in Fiji” at Tanoa Plaza on Tuesday night.
During his presentation, Apted highlighted that social media poses a significant barrier for women aspiring to enter politics. “The influence of traditional media has diminished; now the action predominantly takes place on social media,” he remarked. He emphasized that the online environment in Fiji can be particularly harsh, sexist, and damaging, especially towards women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, who are often subjected to negative scrutiny.
Apted pointed out the problems associated with popular platforms like Chat Fiji, where personal and private images can be shared without consent, creating an intimidating atmosphere for women considering a public role. He noted that while there are laws designed to hold individuals accountable for online behavior, there has been a lack of government investment to enforce these regulations effectively.
He stressed the need for dedicated funding, personnel, and public awareness initiatives to enhance online safety. “This issue requires immediate attention if we want to empower women to participate more actively in public life,” he said.
Apted urged women to voice their concerns to the government and advocate for necessary investments in online safety to facilitate their entry into public discussions.