The government should increase its investment in the Online Safety Commission, according to John Apted, a litigation partner at Munroe Ley Lawyers. He highlighted this during a discussion on “Breaking Barriers: Increasing Female Participation in Local Government Elections in Fiji” at Tanoa Plaza on Tuesday night.
Mr. Apted emphasized that social media poses significant challenges for women seeking to enter politics. He noted, “The media is much less powerful now than it used to be; the action is all on social media.” He criticized Fiji’s online environment, describing it as often cruel and sexist, particularly targeting women and the LGBTQ+ community.
He pointed out the negative impact of popular platforms, like Chat Fiji, where personal photos are shared without consent, deterring women from participating in public life. While there are existing laws intended to hold offenders accountable, Mr. Apted stated that insufficient government resources have been allocated to enforce these regulations effectively.
“Online safety in terms of providing budget, personnel, and public awareness needs to be prioritized,” he asserted. He urged women to voice their concerns to the government and advocate for increased funding, emphasizing that this would foster a more empowering environment for women in politics.