It seems that there is not a day that goes past that I
don’t have this knotted feeling in my stomach. I get it every time I read,
watch or hear about another violent assault on a women or girl.
On one hand I am encouraged that the Fiji Media is
reporting and that organisations are raising this issue; and that more and more
women and girls are being encouraged and supported in reporting these terrible
crimes to the police.
On the other hand I am profoundly saddened that we
continue to face such a widespread disrespect of the dignity of human life, and
respect for the vulnerability of women and girls in Fiji, despite all the words
spoken about traditional and religious values.
As a Christian I am ashamed that babies, little girls and
boys, mothers, daughters, sisters and wives endure such pain and suffering in a
country where close to sixty percent of the population claim to believe in and
follow the teachings of Jesus the Christ, who uplifted and empowered the status
of women.
Last week I was encouraged to hear the head of the
Methodist Church in Fiji, Rev. Tuikilakila Waqairatu speak out against
gender-based violence, acknowledging that was, “legitimised by many cultures, institutions and some Christian groups
in society and its effects are extensive in nature.”
He was quoted as
saying that the church “must create a climate of openness and develop policies
and procedures which keep children and the vulnerable safe from harm.”
He joins other religious leaders who are not only willing
to speak out against gender-based violence but are calling and leading their
religious organisations to respond to violence in the home and the community.
Late last month, the Archbishop-elect of the Roman
Catholic Church in Fiji, Father Peter Loy Chong, called for churches to take
“an aggressive approach on the elimination of this social evil from our midst.”
In an interview with the Fiji Times,
Father Chong had said they “needed to be inclusive in their awareness programs
at the grassroots level because not everyone belonged to the church.”
During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Violence
(25th November – 10th December) in 2011, the Archbishop
of the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia, the Most Rev. Dr. Winston Halapua
launched an initiative to combat violence against women and children in the
Diocese. This included the training of clergy and pastoral care givers,
implementation in the Anglican primary school curriculum, implementing a code
of conduct for clergy, the provision of pastoral care to victims and witnesses
of gender-based violence, and the establishment of the Simeon Ministry – male
advocates in the campaign to eliminate violence against women and children.
As you may have read in the Fiji Times last week, a
regional workshop was held by the Pacific Conference of Churches, God’s Pacific
People and WEAVERS in Suva on the elimination of gender-based violence.
With the theme, “Act Justly: Stop Gender-based Violence,”
the workshop was aimed at bringing representatives of churches in the Pacific
together to network and strategise how to more deeply engage in the ongoing
work to eliminate gender-based violence and also to make recommendations that
can be taken to the Pacific Conference of Churches General Assembly in the
Solomon Islands early next month.
Among the discussions was a call for a collective effort by
the churches of the Pacific to work for the elimination of gender-based
violence.
Akanisi Tarabe, PCC’s Ecumenical Animator for Women
Development, who coordinated the workshop, said that the workshop was a
opportunity for those involved in the church’s engagement with the elimination
of gender-based violence to network with other Civil Society and
Non-Governmental Organisations involved in the same work and establish and
strengthen partnerships.
While there was a significant absence of male
participants, Mrs. Tarabe was appreciative of the contribution of the men who
did participate and contribute in the discussions during the workshop and said
that one of the issues highlighted was the need to include men as part of the
solution to the issue of gender-based violence, saying there was a need for the
church to take the leading role in sensitising men, clergy, traditional and
community leaders in issues that are normally seen as “women’s issues,” when
they are everyone’s responsibility.
In sharing her thoughts on how to encourage Pacific
churches engagement in the work to end violence against women, the Coordinator
of the God’s Pacific People programme, Rev. Rosalyn Nokise said that an
Ecumenical (inter-church) Network to Eliminate Violence Against Women could
lead, “Pacific churches to work together to support and encourage responses to
end violence against women at the local level within our communities.”
The proposals and recommendations from this workshop will
be presented at a Pre-Assembly Women’s Meeting prior to the Pacific Conference
of Churches General Assembly.
As a Christian, I have accepted the responsibility that
comes with my faith to work towards the elimination of gender-based violence.
As a human being I have accepted the responsibility to treat and ensure the
treatment of other human beings with dignity and respect. As a man I have also
accepted my responsibility to protect and advocate for the protection and
respect of women and children.
The role of men as partners in speaking and acting
against gender-based violence is an important in this struggle – whether in
terms of sharing information on laws, “picking up the biblical witness of
equality of male and female,” or advocating for non-violence and supporting
victims and witnesses of gender-based violence.
Also important is the role of women in not contributing
to the continuation of the cycle of violence by remaining silent out of fear,
gossip, blaming other women, condoning abuse or through denial.
Tomorrow, when many people celebrate St. Valentine’s Day,
the One Billion Rising campaign to end violence against girls and women will be
held globally, including in Fiji.
According to the organisers of the campaign, one in three
girls/women on the planet is raped or beaten in her lifetime. That is more than
ONE BILLION WOMEN violated. One billion daughters, mothers, grandmothers,
sisters, lovers and friends. On 14th February 2013, we are inviting ONE BILLION
women and those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to
this violence.
Women, girls and men and boys who want to end this
violence are called to join in this act of solidarity and demand an end to violence
against girls and women. The campaign begins with a march, starting at 11.30am
from Gordon Street, to Ratu Sukuna Park, where an hour-long event will be held that
includes flash mobs and a theatrical production
Perhaps this may be the beginning of your contribution to
end violence against women and children.
“Simplicity, Serenity, Spontaneity”
ENDS
FYI KGO's God Talk podcast
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