There is no justification, no excuse, for any man to inflict violence on a woman or abuse her in any way.
Those who do so are cowards and criminals.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has made this clear at the World Humanitarian Summit roundtable discussion on women and girls in Istanbul, Turkey.
Bainimarama says he wants to make it perfectly clear what his own attitude is and that of the government he leads, as debate continues at home about whether women are in any way to blame for this, by provoking their men into acts of violence or inviting rape by wearing provocative clothing.
Bainimarama stresses that he simply does not accept the argument that the onus is on a woman not to provoke her partner’s temper, and that if she does so, that somehow justifies or excuses the treatment that is meted out to her.
The Prime Minister says it is a way of thinking that provides men with an excuse to justify the unjustifiable and women to accept the unacceptable.
He says it is a way of thinking that perpetuates a cycle of violence and must be eradicated with the full force of the law.
Bainimarama says there should be zero tolerance for those who abuse women and girls.
He went on to say that real men don’t mistreat women.
The Prime Minister says they should treat them with the respect they deserve as our wives, partners, mothers, sisters and daughters are the bedrock of our families and of our nation.
Bainimarama says the Fijian government has made it a priority to improve the position of women and girls in Fiji and finally put an end to a long history in which women have been treated very poorly.
He says he is sad to report that we all still have a terrible problem with male attitudes to women.
Bainimarama says we have an unacceptable level of rape and child abuse in the country.
He says far too many men regard women as subservient and as possessions for their sexual gratification.
The Prime Minister says far too many men routinely resort to violence in a domestic setting.
He says the government has established unprecedented equality for all Fijians in our Constitution, including the right to be free from any form of violence.
Bainimarama says they are empowering women by improving their access to education through free schooling, scholarships and tertiary loans.
He adds that the government is empowering women by encouraging them to start their own businesses with the small and micro business grants.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s statement on women and girls was warmly praised by the Chair of the Summit session, the United Nations Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson.
Eliasson said that it is reassuring to hear a head of government taking such a principled and firm stand on violence against women and children in a domestic environment.
He said that the applause that interrupted Bainimarama is a sign of appreciation.
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