According to Shamima Ali, coordinator of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, women escaping violent relationships in Fiji currently face a lack of affordable housing and welfare support to rely on. Despite efforts from civil society organizations and the government, and the gradual implementation of the National Action Plan, Ali emphasizes that more options are necessary to ensure a safe environment for these women to heal.
Ali noted the slow progress of the National Action Plan, indicating that while some positive developments have occurred, they have not moved quickly enough. She pointed out that Fiji suffers from one of the highest domestic violence rates in the world, highlighting the urgent need for effective support systems for women.
She stated, “While we have the framework in place, we lack physical assistance for women, which includes affordable and alternative housing and welfare funds for those wishing to leave harmful relationships.” The current shelters predominantly operated by civil society organizations are insufficient to meet the needs of domestic violence survivors, leading Ali to call for government action and increased support from the donor community.
Ali expressed concern over the limited funding available to civil society organizations to provide alternative housing solutions. She mentioned existing options such as HART housing, Koroipita, and Public Rental Board Housing, but stressed that these are often too costly and insufficient for those in need.
Ali emphasized the importance of accessing additional funding from institutions like the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank to support the creation of suitable housing for women. She insisted that the government must maintain initiatives that offer protection and assistance to domestic violence survivors and also called for enhancements in policing situations involving violence against women and girls, noting significant gaps in this area.