Fiji Girl Guides Rally to End Violence Against Women and Girls
Date:
Naqali, Fiji — The chant “say no to violence!” rang across Naqali District School as 72 girl guides and 10 girl leaders rallied together in Naitasiri on Saturday for the Fiji Girl Guides’ fifth and final march to end violence against women and girls.
The Naitasiri Voices Against Violence (VAV) Rally at Naqali District School marks the completion of the girls’ Voices Against Violence badge, where girls from eight schools across Naitasiri completed the final course components: to speak out and take action.
Since November 2015, Fiji Girl Guides Association has championed the Voices Against Violence curriculum in schools across Fiji thanks to UN Women’s technical support and its Pacific Fund - a small-grants and capacity building project principally funded by the Australian Government.
“We have really seen the transformation of both the teachers and the girls,” said Fiji Girl Guides Project Officer Tainivanuavou Bolabasaga, “they now know to speak out, and not to be silent.”
“At the rally, we get to see what the girls have learnt at the grassroots level,” said Ms Bolabasaga, “they know what to do, and who they need go to, when they see violence.”
Saturday’s rally marks the end of Fiji Girl Guides’ Voices Against Violence project, which has visited almost 100 schools since it launched in November 2015. Fifty-five schools across Fiji have completed the Voices Against Violence curriculum.
While Fiji Girl Guides’ VAV project is coming to an end, its girl guide leaders are keen to keep spreading the message that violence against women and girls is unacceptable.
“We keep receiving calls from other schools,” said Ms Bolabasaga, “they’ve heard about this project and want to learn more.”
Voices Against Violence was developed through a partnership between the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, and UN Women. It teaches girls about violence – what it is, how to recognise it, and what to do if someone experiences violence – and about the importance of speaking up.
Media enquiries should be directed to:
Jacqui Berrell
Communications and Media Specialist
UN Women Fiji MCO
Phone: +679 330 1178 ext 125
Email: [ Click to reveal ]
Tainivanuavou Bolabasaga
Project Officer
Fiji Girl Guides Association
Phone: +679 971 8106
Email: girlguidefiji@connect.com.fj
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Ending Violence against Women and Girls programme
The Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) programme aims to enable women and girls in the Pacific to live free from violence. It takes a holistic approach to this complex issue, supporting Pacific-led activities to improve policies, to meet the immediate needs of women experiencing violence, and to prevent violence from occurring. UN Women provides technical assistance and support to governments and civil society organisations across the Pacific that are addressing VAWG, with a focus on supporting the adoption and implementation of laws, policies and plans to strengthen access to quality services and to prevent violence.
One of the programme’s key components is the Pacific Regional Ending Violence against Women Facility Fund (Pacific Fund) which was established in to help fill the gaps in funding and capacity experienced by Pacific organisations working in this sphere. It has provided small-grants, extensive capacity building and technical support to Pacific civil society organisations and government departments to support specific initiatives aimed at the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. The Pacific Fund is principally funded by the Australian Government.
For further information please visit:
asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/countries/fiji
facebook.com/unwomenpacific
twitter.com/unwomenpacific