Greetings again from Sydney!
A week ago, the arrival of four large vaka into Darling
Harbour in Sydney, not only created history but also ensured that the denial
and culture of silence surrounding the issue of climate change was broken – by
the beating of drums, the trumpeting of conch shells, the Mua haka combining
elements of Cook Islands, Maori, Samoan, Tongan and Fijian culture and the roar
of the crowd.
While we of the Pacific may have celebrated the dramatic
way in which the Pacific voice was brought to the world, Australia included,
there are a number of issues that continue to exist in a culture of silence in
our communities. One of these issues is gender-based violence.
A 2010 report by UNIFEM (a part of UN WOMEN) titled,
“Ending Violence Against Women and Girls” highlighted the following for Fiji:
·
The main forms of violence reported by Fijian
women are: physical, sexual and emotional abuse by an intimate partner; sexual
assault; and sexual harassment.
·
Violence against women imposes a large cost: the
Reserve Bank has calculated the direct and indirect costs of violence in Fiji
to be FJ$210.69-million per year, or 7% of GDP.
·
Domestic violence appears widespread in Fiji.
Figures from the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre show that 80% of women have
witnessed some form of violence in the home; 66% of women have been physically
abused by partners and nearly half repeatedly abused; 26% of women have been
beaten while pregnant; 48% of married women have been forced into sex by their
husbands; and 13% of women have been raped. Police statistics show that
domestic violence made up around 13% of all crimes against the person between
2003 and 2007. Workplace sexual harassment is also prevalent: a 2002 study
found that one in three women had been sexually harassed in the workplace.
·
In many cases, the offender is known to the
victim. According to Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre statistics, the victim knew the
perpetrator in 70% of reported rape cases and 94% of child sexual abuse cases.
·
Many incidents of sexual violence involve young
girls: one study found that 30% of female rape victims were 11-15 years.
Children who are billeted with their extended family are particularly
vulnerable to sexual abuse e.g. children from outer islands sent to live in
urban centres to complete secondary education.
·
Sexual exploitation of children exists in Fiji,
including prostitution, sex tourism and pornography.
·
There is evidence that violence against women is
increasing in Fiji: reports of sexual violence increased by 155% from 2003-2007
and there have been an increasing number of violent deaths of women.
·
Fiji’s four political coups have been cited as a
cause of increased violence. Research shows that violence against women, both
from intimate partners and strangers, increases during and after coups. At the
same time, police have diminished capacity and willingness to respond to
violence against women.
Last year, the late President of head of the Methodist Church in Fiji, Rev.
Dr. Tuikilakila Waqairatu, spoke 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".
Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, has called for churches to
take "an aggressive approach on the elimination of this social evil from
our midst".
According to the UNFPA, a unique strength of faith
leaders and faith-based organizations is that they are perceived as credible
structures by their constituencies. Existing networks can thus be used for
outreach within faith communities, to provide information and to mobilize
congregations. Linked to this is the specific advantage faith leaders have as
providers of spiritual guidance.
In an attempt to change the culture of silence
surrounding gender-based violence, the world’s attention is drawn to this issue
from the 25th of November, which is the International Day for the Elimination
of Violence Against Women, through to December 10th, which is International Human
Rights Day. It is known as the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based
Violence,” a global campaign to focus our efforts towards working to eliminate
violence against women in our families, our communities and our world.
A project to involve the churches in the 16 Days of
Activism Against Gender Based Violence has been developed by the Christian
Network (Talanoa) – working together to end violence and abuse against women
and children in our families, our churches and our communities.
This year the Network is inviting the Christian community
to support this campaign and to use
Sunday November 23rd to introduce and focus the efforts of Christians towards
the goal of these 16 days. (If this Sunday is not appropriate you might
consider either November 30th or December 7th).
In addition to this Sermon Suggestion we also have made
available Liturgical Resources, Daily Readings and Prayers for each of the 16
Days and have sourced some Bible Studies which could be used.
Also there will be
a Seminar and Ecumenical Service at Holy Trinity Cathedral on Thursday December
4th - Dr Holger Szesnet of the Pacific
Theological College will facilitate an interactive Bible study on Ephesians 5
- the seminar starting at 9 am and the
service at 12.30 pm with light refreshments in between and lunch at the
conclusion at 1pm.
The resources for Break the Silence Sunday have been
resourced and/or prepared by Revd. Ann Drummond – Australian Volunteer for
International Development in conjunction with members of the above Network. Ann
is based at the House of Sarah – a ministry of the Diocese of Polynesia and the
Association of Anglican Women. These resources in both English and i-Taukei are
on line in the Resources page of House of Sarah website – www.houseofsarah.org or from the
Methodist Church in Fiji website – www.methodistfiji.org.
“Simplicity, Serenity, Spontaneity”
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