If you are hitting your wife or children, you should be prepared to face the consequences - Rabuli

“If you are hitting your wife or children, you should be prepared to face the consequences”.

This was the message given by Land Force Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class 1 Joeli Rabuli to about 150 RFMF officers at the closing of the RFMF’s zero tolerance to violence against women and children awareness session.

The awareness session was organised by the Joint Sukuna Bowl Committee as the theme for the Sukuna Bowl this year is zero tolerance on violence against women and children.

Speaking in the iTaukei language during his closing remarks, Rabuli told the officers that they needed to set an example for their children.

He said that as much as it is important for their children and wives to respect them, the officers should also ensure that they earn the respect of their family members by doing the right thing.

The RFMF officers present at the awareness session were also told about some forms of violence women in Fiji were still being subjected to.

Senior Officer at the Ministry of Women and Children Raijeli Mawa says some men still do not allow their wives to visit their family members.

She says some cases they have received include men threatening their partners to always answer the phone before it rings three times while some tell their partners to send them photos of where they are because they have control issues.

Mawa says they still receive cases of cohesive control where men threaten their partners to be home by 5pm everyday after work.

During the question and answer session, an officer asked why there was no Ministry of Men as they also have issues which they face and would want to raise.

He said that one particular issue was their wives cheating on them when they went on peacekeeping duties abroad.

Mawa says there is a Ministry for Women and Children because they are the most vulnerable in society.