WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com

 

Background on Police No Drop Policy in Fiji - Via Fiji Women's Crisis Center:

http://www.fijiwomen.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68:services-for-violence-against-women-in-fiji&catid=37:discussion-papers&Itemid=70

Government Services
In September 1995 the Fiji Police Department introduced the “No Drop” Policy which requires all cases of domestic violence to be investigated. Prior to the introduction of this policy, the police force tended to put emphasis on reconciliation of cases involving domestic violence. Since the policy was introduced it is required that these cases be heard in the Magistrate’s Courts before charges can be dropped. Despite the introduction of the ‘no drop’ policy, the experiences of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre counsellors show that attitudes of investigating police officers towards women who are victims/’survivors of domestic violence lack sensitivity and there are considerable delays in the investigating process. Women who have been given Non-Molestation Orders (restraining orders) by the Courts for protection from domestic violence, are required to go back to court if the Non-Molestation Order is breached and they wish to press charges for the breach. The Police do not have the jurisdiction to arrest anyone in breach of a non-molestation order unless directed by the courts. This is a lengthy process and leaves the woman exposed to danger for considerable amounts of time. There is a great need for gender sensitivity training for law enforcement agencies and members of the judiciary, with particular attention to the dynamics of domestic violence.

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The Fiji Times Online:

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=161850

 

FIJI - NEW STUDY ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

December 14, 2010

A JOINT study by Fiji School of Medicine and the World Health Organisation revealed that majority of women who are victims of violence are indigenous Fijians.

Senior lecturer of the department of public health and primary care of FNU Dr Timaima Tuiketei who is one of the researchers said during the study they took data from 16 health centres around Fiji and analyzed them.

A summary of the report was launched by the Medical Officer WHO, Dr Li Dan, FSMed Dean Professor Ian Rouse and Dr Isimeli Tukana at Tanoa Plaza yesterday. The full report will be released at the end of the month.

Dr Tuiketei said there have been a lot of emphasis on violence against women in Fiji by the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre. The Fiji Police had their No Drop Policy on violence against women, but there was a gap in the information provided on the injuries related to violence on women in the health sector.

Dr Dan said about 57,000 deaths occur annually in the western Pacific region because of violence and Fiji was a part of it.

He said many more are injured and suffered a range of physical, sexual, reproductive and mental health problems.

The report said violence placed a burden on national economies because of expenditure on health care and law enforcement and there was loss of productivity.

Dr Tuiketei said the research was aimed at finding out the type of injuries sustained from violence and to identify the descriptive characteristics of the injuries. She said the research also aimed to determine whether health professionals in Fiji were able to manage patients who were victims of violence.

According to Dr Tuiketei, the research started in 2005 with 3027 data samples taken from the women patients.

She said statistics from the research showed that 96 per cent of the violence against women patients knew their assailant.

She said 45 per cent of the assailants were current boyfriends, 43 per cent were close family relatives, 32 per cent were their divorced husbands, 29 per cent were victim's neighbour, 27 per cent were separated husbands, 26 per cents were ex-boyfriends and 15-16 per cent were others.

The research highlighted that the main injuries seen in VAW patients were 85 per cent facial and scalp injury, 59 per cent jaw injuries, 50 per cent head injuries, 56 per cent upper limb injury, 30 per cent attempted rape and others.

She said the worrying factor was the fact that the highest number of perpetrators of violence in the study was male spouses.

She said out of the total study number of 3027, 1189 assailants were husbands, 295 were boyfriends and 65 were de-facto partners.

Dr Tuiketei said the research results showed that there was a steady increase of recorded cases over the five years from 2005 to 2009 with a slight decrease in 2008. She said there were 532 cases in 2005, 579 cases recorded in 2006, 607 cases in 2007, 584 cases in 2008 and 674 cases in 2009.

Dr Tuiketei said the research report recommended that violence against women policy and clinical management guideline be developed for Ministry of Health, training to be conducted on VAW clinical management, counseling and other areas.

She said there was a need to conduct more community awareness programs on VAW issues.