
Preventing Violence Against Women in Fiji’s Faith Settings initiative was Launched in Suva this week.
The Program uses faith-based approaches to encourage Gender Equality and prevent violence against women and girls that is often accepted as normal or a ‘social norm’ – in Fijian society.
The Program will be implemented over four-years, engaging members of the Anglican communities in Lami, Newtown and Wailoku to take a lead in reducing the levels of violence against women and girls in their own communities. About 20 Community Activists will be part of the Program.
The House of Sarah is adapting and implementing the internationally recognized SASA Model Faith approach with technical assistance from UN Women and Raising Voices, the Ugandan-based non-profit organization that developed SASA! The evidence-based SASA Approach has proven to reduce levels of violence against women.
House of Sarah is supported by the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia and provides counseling and training programs on Gender Based violence.
The Program is co-funded by the Fiji Women’s Fund, supported by the Australian Government, and the new Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls program funded primarily by the European Union providing targeted support for service delivery and community-based approaches such as PVFFS.