Fiji’s online landscape has increasingly become a perilous space for women and girls, according to Sashi Kiran, the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection. The Online Safety Commission’s findings reveal that women account for over 60 percent of all recorded complaints regarding online abuse. Alarmingly, a 2024 Commission report indicates that 22 percent of Fijian women are regular victims of image-based abuse, while 30 percent face defamatory attacks online, frequently perpetrated by fake accounts.
With more than 86 percent of Fiji’s adult population engaging in social media usage, platforms like Facebook and TikTok are often exploited to disseminate misinformation, manipulate images through artificial intelligence, and inflict reputational damage. Speaking at the Young Women’s Forum focused on technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), Minister Kiran highlighted the urgent need to address such online dangers, reflecting on the rapid expansion of Fiji’s digital realm.
The Young Women’s Forum, now in its second year, gathers 51 young women from across the nation, including Year 13 students, tertiary students, recent graduates, and young professionals. The initiative aims to create a safe and inclusive space to discuss the escalating risks and consequences associated with TFGBV, which encompasses online harassment, cyberstalking, hate speech, and non-consensual image sharing.
Minister Kiran noted that the issue of TFGBV is formally acknowledged in Fiji’s Service Delivery Protocol for Gender-Based Violence and the Fiji National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against All Women and Girls (2023–2028). Looking ahead, the 2025 program of the forum will introduce a youth-led review of the Online Safety Act, allowing participants to evaluate the legislation’s strengths and weaknesses and propose recommendations for enhanced enforcement.
During the forum’s opening, Australian Deputy High Commissioner Clair McNamara and UNFPA Pacific Director Bidisha Pillai expressed their commitment to promoting the rights and safety of women and girls in both digital and physical environments. The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection, in collaboration with UNFPA and support from the Australian High Commission, hosted a two-day workshop as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. This initiative aims to involve young women in discussions about the impact of technology-facilitated gender-based violence and the existing support systems available to them.
As Fiji takes proactive steps toward safeguarding women and girls in the digital domain, it is hoped that such initiatives will not only raise awareness but also empower young women to advocate for change and contribute to the formulation of safer online policies.
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