Empowering female inmates will ensure they do not reoffend - Akbar

Empowering female inmates economically is one of the strategies to ensure they do not reoffend.

Those are the words of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Minister Rosy Akbar while closing the Pacific Island Regional Conference for Women in Correction 2015 at Holiday Inn Suva last night.

She says there is also a need for consolidated effort between the government, non-government organisations and the relevant stakeholders to work together to create skills training and opportunities for social and economic development of women inmates.

Akbar adds as they pursue to a coordinated partnership with Fiji Correction Service, the Ministry will provide support services in areas of rehabilitation programs to develop their self-confidence, morale and ability to live a decent and respectful life with their families.

Akbar also says that there currently there are 55 female inmates, 13 committed murders by infanticide, while the rest are in for theft and obtaining money by false pretenses.