Gender-based violence is not about being poor - Vuniwaqa

“Gender-based violence is not about being poor.”

These are the sentiments of the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa in response to the comment of SODELPA MP, Viliame Gavoka.

Gavoka said in parliament that the biggest cause of violence in families is poverty and then asked Vuniwaqa if they could increase the minimum wage rate to $5 an hour and hence reduce poverty.

Gavoka says the government is not helping people by setting up a minimum wage rate of $2.68 an hour.

SODELPA MP, Niko Nawaikula then asked Vuniwaqa what the government is doing to combat gender-based violence in Fiji.