A ground breaking research report by DIVA for Equality on Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender women in the country has revealed that 82 of the 645 LBT respondents said they were sexually assaulted because of their Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and Sex Characteristics.
The research is the first in the country for LBT women covering a range of subjects including LBT members dealing with violence, access to justice, families, health and well‑being, poverty, education, employment and economic justice and experience with the Fiji Police Force and the Fiji Court System.
The report revealed that 52 respondents said they were sexually assaulted by a family member.
225 respondents had also experienced mental and emotional abuse because of their Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics.
It is also highlighted in the report that 11.49 percent of the respondents have gone to Police when sexually assaulted while 76.24 percent of the respondents said they did not feel safe going to the Fiji Police.
The report also said that 30 LBT women had responded that they have been beaten by Police because of their Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics.
In terms of family living, 19 percent of the respondents were disowned by their family.
On general health services, 84 percent said that health staff are supportive when treating them.
92.44 percent of the 645 LBT Women identify themselves as Christians, six were Hindus while 30 said they had other religions.
Meanwhile DIVA for Equality has made recommendations on their key findings on violence on LBT members and are calling on tipping the scales towards justice for all.
Fiji Women Crisis Centre Coordinator, Shamima Ali says that the report will also help them in someway shape how the Centre does things including counseling and adds that the research platform is great for Fiji and will be a model for other Pacific Islands.
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