The Fiji Police Force is urging survivors of alleged sexual offenses to report their cases to law enforcement. Assistant Police Commissioner Livai Driu made this statement while confirming that no complaints had been filed against a senior government official who has recently resigned. Driu emphasized, “I think people should lodge their complaints with the police; until then, we cannot take any action.”
The allegations of sexual harassment against the official were initially brought to light by a reporter during an interview with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka last month.
Yesterday, the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement issued a joint statement demanding that Rabuka and the government retract the former official’s nomination for a diplomatic position. “While we recognize the fundamental right to the presumption of innocence, the nomination of someone accused of sexual harassment highlights how sexual violence continues to be normalized and minimized, even at the highest levels of government, where offenders are often rewarded,” stated Shamima Ali, coordinator of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre.
Inquiries directed to Prime Minister Rabuka, who is currently in New Zealand, went unanswered.