John Apted, a litigation partner at Munroe Ley Lawyers, emphasized the need for increased government investment in the Online Safety Commission during his presentation on ‘Breaking Barriers: Increasing Female Participation in Local Government Elections in Fiji’ at Tanoa Plaza on Tuesday evening.
Apted pointed out that social media poses significant challenges for women aspiring to enter politics. He noted, “The media is much less powerful now than it used to be; the reality is the action is all on social media.” He described Fiji’s social media landscape as particularly harsh, often targeting women and the LGBTQ+ community with cruelty and negativity.
He highlighted the prevalence of platforms like Chat Fiji, which frequently share personal and intimate images without consent, creating a hostile environment for women considering public roles. Although there are existing laws aimed at accountability, Apted argued that the government has not allocated sufficient resources to enforce these measures effectively.
He called for improved online safety initiatives that include budget allocations, personnel, and public awareness campaigns, stating, “This is an area that needs urgent attention if women are going to feel more empowered to put themselves out in public.”
Apted encouraged women to voice their concerns to the government and advocate for increased investments in online safety to foster a supportive environment for their political involvement.