Newly renovated Ba Women’s Crisis Centre opens

The newly renovated Ba Women’s Crisis Centre has been opened ensuring better services for women from the Western Division ranging from Lautoka to Rakiraki.

The renovation of the centre cost $550,000 which was supported by New Zealand Aid.

Majority of the women that visit the centre are there for domestic violence issues which amount to an average of 50% of the new clients seen in the past 19 years.

The Ba Women’s Crisis Centre has attended to a total of 5,059 women in the past 19 years with an average per month of 22 new clients attended to for first time counselling.

According to the Ba Women’s Crisis Centre, it has counselled 2,570 new domestic violence clients; 83 rape and other forms of sexual assault clients; 140 child abuse and cases of adult-child abuse survivors; 101 sexual harassment.

Meanwhile, the first-ever Reclaim the Night march to mark International Women's Day was held in Ba last night from Tabua Park to Jolly Good Shed .

About 200 people including 50 men showed their support in ending rape and to reclaim spaces for women and girls where they are safe.