The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC) is a
non-government organization
A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in ...
(NGO) in
Fiji. Established in 1984, it offers counselling and legal, medical, and practical support to woman and children victims of violence in
Fiji.
History
The Women's Crisis Centre started in August 1984. The founding group met in 1983, when women of a variety of races, nationalities, religions and beliefs, got together and expressed a fear about the number of sexual attacks on women in and around the city of
Suva. The group was worried about the lack of support for women. There was no official body to provide help, so the women decided to work towards providing such a service themselves.
The Centre is funded by donations and by small grants, occasionally from the government. It is a charitable trust affiliated to the
National Council of Women. However, the National Council of Women has not provided much help to the Centre; the WCC however still wished to be affiliated to the NCW. Presently, the centre is made up of about 30 women, mostly locals and some
expatriate
An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. In common usage, the term often refers to educated professionals, skilled workers, or artists taking positions outside their home country, either ...
s. Its aim is to continue to increase the number of local women members, and the Centre constantly works to this end.
Shamima Ali has served as a coordinator or director of FWCC for many years.
FWCC provides training for police so that they can better understand issues relating to
sexual harassment and
rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or ...
.
As of 2021 the centre employs 16 staff.
[ It is governed by a board of four trustees.][
]
See also
* Violence against women in Fiji
* Sereima Lomaloma
References
{{reflist
External links
Official site
Organisations based in Fiji
Fijian women
Violence against women in Fiji