Many individuals are hesitant to report serious issues such as domestic violence and drug-related activities to authorities. Vani Catanasiga, the executive director of the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS), noted that this reluctance is largely driven by a deep-seated fear of stigma and potential social consequences.
“There are survivors who prefer not to attend events in certain locations due to their belief that local authorities may not be approachable,” she explained. Catanasiga highlighted that this phenomenon is not limited to specific communities but affects the nation as a whole.
Communities sometimes choose to manage their issues independently rather than seek assistance from authorities. To tackle the problem of unreported cases, FCOSS has implemented a community feedback hub. This platform allows individuals to report issues through an online form, or via messaging services such as Viber and Messenger.
Catanasiga remarked that many of the concerns reported through the feedback hub are related to the services provided by specific authorities. She revealed that the public has requested measures to keep their reports confidential due to security concerns.
This issue has been communicated to senior staff members within the relevant authorities.