RIP Joytika Singh

a blog has been long over due....

But it pains me a lot to write this one. However, it needs to be documented.

JOYTIKA SINGH - 

I met Joy during the premier launch of Suraji (movie) and she was smiling away - I really liked the role she played in the movie and she did an excellent job at it (thumbs up Lewa).
I later met her during the One Billion Rising project and... danced with us on the streets of Suva. Protesting and making a stand on removing all forms of violence against women and girls. I met her during our rehearsals for the Vagina Monologues and she was so eager to join the cause.
I did not get the opportunity to know her very well but the few times we did meet she was smiling away and something smart [what more can we expect from an academic] ...

In my books Joy was destined for greater things. She was a rising star and a shining one too. Everyone says she had very pretty eyes. I think she had mysterious eyes...

Taken away from us at the end of June (2013).... Her death is not something we want to be reminded about but it is one we need to learn from. Our dear friend Joy, was the victim of a very brutal murder :,-(

Today (4th of July) I attended a Peace Vigil held for Joy. It was here I learnt about the violence she lived through in her marriage. She was undergoing mental and emotional abuse.
Today I feel helpless. Helpless because I could not do anything for Joy.
helpless because I did not even know this was happening to someone I knew and someone who made me smile.
May your soul rest in Peace beloved Joy!! and we will continue to fight this fight to ensure safer spaces for women everywhere... We love you!!

We have so many friends out there. some we know from our childhoods. others we know from work, social media, networks etc. It is very important to spare a few minutes and ask our friends "How are you?" because one day you will wake up and that friend is no longer there!!!
It is especially important for us to talk about the abuse we are going through. being the abuser or the abused. it is equally important to receive professional help and ensure we do the right thing.

The fight for safer spaces will carry on. Today a fighter is no longer with us :-(
But in our works we will always remember you!!!

You were a true JOY :-) Rest in peace and watch over us!!

Youngest rape victim in Fiji, 9 months old.

In the Fiji Times on Saturday, 2nd Februrary 2013, this was the front page news!!
How anyone can go past this page to the rest of the news is just a wonder.

Rape victim

Nanise Loanakadavu
Saturday, February 02, 2013

A NINE-month-old baby is the youngest rape victim in Fiji.

This was revealed by the National Co-ordinator of Children Abuse and Sexual Offence within the Fiji Police Force, Detective Inspector Salaseini Vakatuturagani.
And the force has described the incident as "shocking" saying for the first time, a baby was the victim of rape in the country.
Ms Vakatuturagani said the incident occurred in one of the outer islands last year.
She said the matter was reported to the police after the baby was taken to the hospital for a check up when she could not stop crying.
Ms Vakatuturagani said the perpetrator, a 39-year-old man, was in custody.
Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua, however, admitted that last year was not a good year.
"Even this year, we have reported 10 cases of rape in January alone," Brig-Gen Naivalurua said.
He has called on church leaders to step on board and work with them because cases of sexual offences continue to be a concern to the police despite repeated reminders and warnings issued to the public.
"This is really the element of morality within the families but the intervention and approach cannot be done by police alone," Brig-Gen Naivalurua said.
"The church is well armed to handle this," he said.
Ms Vakatuturagani said a 79-year-old man was the oldest perpetrator of sexual crimes while a 10-year-old was the youngest. The case with the 10-year-old was reported in the beginning of this year.
Meanwhile, Fiji Women's Crisis Centre deputy co-ordinator Edwina Kotoisuva said the incident was a total abuse of power and trust. She said a lot of men in society nowadays were taking advantage of those who were vulnerable.
Last year, police recorded a total of 2980 sexual crimes.
Police statistics revealed the southern division recorded the highest at 1217 cases; followed by the Western Division — 758 cases; and then Eastern Division — 556; the Northern Division — 373; and the lowest received at Totogo of 76 cases.
Of all these sexual crimes, offences against public morality topped the list with 2153, and rape and attempted rape followed with 448 cases.
story can be accessed here.


9 month old baby!!! What are we doing wrong with people in our society?
On one hand we have issues/problems of Poverty, Unemployment, Global warming and on the other hand we have the huge problem of VIOLENCE!!! Violence encountered by women and children (mostly). 1 in 3 women has or will be a victim of violence (According to global stats).
Where are we going wrong?
Bring back hanging?
Stone the perpatrator to death?
Castrate them?
Whip them daily for th rest of their life?
None of these will undo the damage made to the victims life.
None of these will remove the trauma embeded in the victims life.

We need to take a good serious look at our own individual selves and within our networks.
What are we doing to END all forms of violence against womena dn children?
If we are not doing anything yet, we better start.
Today you read about someones daughter, wife, mother, sister in the news who was subjected to violence. Tomorrow it could be someone you know.

we all need to make a stand and join hands to fight this ugly battle.
When we are with our networks we NEED to discuss the issue of violence. If someone you know is having problems with family, friends, co-workers, management and they have a violent intention it is your responsibility to advice them of the nearest counseling center so they can discuss the issue and come to a solution.
If you know of someone who is being subjected to violence ASSIST them getting out of the situation. Report the matter to relevaant authorities and keep following up until something positive done about the situtation.

We need to work together to break the silence and CLAIM our rightful spaces!! We demand a space that is free from all kinds of violence!!!

We demand our right to SAFETY!!!


until next blog....






 

violence against women

Having a discussion (argument) on a FB forum on the topic of 'Women and Rape/violence'... This not so gentleman comes in and says "Women should learn martial arts'...

AND here we go again - around the same playground...
-women should wear long skirts.
-women should stay home.
-women should not go out alone.
-women should be silent . .. etc etc etc ....
... That is enough B/S!!! Seriously!!! Lets face the reality of this matter!!! No matter what women do (or dont do) they continue to be subjected to violence and unequal opportunities. 1 in 3 women have undergone some kind of violence.
PNG stats shows 80% women have undergone violence.
Vanuatu stat shows 74% women have undergone violence.
that women/girl next to you might have undergone violence (of some sort). why didnt she tell you??? Exactly because of the above mentioned 'answers' that they receive... "If you did not talk back to you husband he would not hit you' i think that ship has sailed.... Women need to take ownership of their LIVES (lord knows it we only get it once) AND MEN...

YES MEN...

MEN need to STOP this blame game and use their networks, positions and resources to EDUCATE other men that VIOLENCE of any kind is WRONG!!!!