The basis of love and respect for one another exists in all religions and this a must practice during a marriage ceremony where marital vows is made between couples.
This was the sentiments of Minister for Women Mereseini Vuniwaqa while officiating at the Zero Tolerance Violence Free Declaration of the Natua Multi-Racial community.
Vuniwaqa says that whether it is Hinduism, Islam or Christianity love and respect for one another is key.
While addressing the Natua community, Vuniwaqa highlighted that government cannot achieve a violence free community without the commitment of the community themselves.
She says the rate of violence against women in Fiji is quite drastic.
Vuniwaqa adds that a study three years ago done by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Center, found that over 60 percent of Fijian Women in a marriage or in a defacto relationship have suffered some sort of violence during their marital life by the hand of their spouses or their loved ones.
Vuniwaqa adds that while love and respect is being talked about in religion, the Fijian constitution itself talks about it in legal terms, in terms of equality, in terms of non-discrimination on the basis of gender or on the basis of race.
Vuniwaqa thanked the Natua Men’s Club for their support towards the Natua Women’s Club in the launching the Zero Tolerance Violence Free Declaration of their community.
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