Two Out of Three Women in Fiji’s Churches Experience Violence, Says Reverend Bhagwan

Reverend James Bhagwan, the General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, has revealed that two out of three women in every church in Fiji experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

He made this statement during his sermon on Break the Silence Sunday at Butt Street Wesley Church, emphasizing that these uncomfortable truths need to be addressed within church communities.

Reverend Bhagwan explained that churches should not only discuss religious topics but also confront real-world issues like domestic violence.

He pointed out that in many cases, victims and perpetrators of violence are found within the church community itself.

He urged churches to break the silence around these issues, drawing a parallel to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, which was itself an act of humiliation and violence.

The Reverend stressed that just as Christians speak openly about Jesus' suffering, they must also be willing to speak out against violence in their communities.

He highlighted the importance of breaking the silence surrounding violence, supporting victims, and offering hope and healing to those affected.

Today marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign calling for the elimination of gender-based violence.

This campaign has been supported by Christian communities, and in Fiji, churches began observing Break the Silence Sunday in 2013.

The initiative was created by the Christian Network Talanoa, which works to remove the culture of silence and shame around violence against women, especially in faith-based settings.

The Pacific Conference of Churches is expanding this campaign to all its member churches and national councils.

Source Fiji Village