“We know that women, they are hardworking in the family. But from the beginning of COVID-19, women are suffering so much,” said Temaleti Sauka of the Nailaga Soqosoqo Vakamarama (SSVM).
Since Fiji’s first reported case of COVID-19 in mid-March, many communities have experienced an increased level of economic hardship.
These include a record level of unemployment as well as introduced measures to curb the local transmission of COVID-19.
“There’s not enough income, there’s not enough food to serve to their families and those are some of the things that are affecting our communities due to COVID-19,” said Tevita Evu of the Ba District Council of Social Services (DCOSS).
Kamlesh Kaur from the Tavarau Varoka Nari Sabha added that with the restrictions in place and the ripple effect from the tourism industry, many in her community are struggling to make ends meet.
“In Yalalevu, most of them are workers so they have cut down hours, some are terminated, and their hours are reduced in a way,” she said.
And with families barely receiving an income, the Rural Women Leaders Community Media Network (RWLCMN) in Tavua have reported an increase in crime and domestic violence.
“Domestic violence it was when there’s no money in the home,” said Kaur, adding that families had resorted to backyard gardening and “bring something from there so that there’s less violence in the home.”
Sauka added, “[Despite] the curfew/lockdown there is still an increase also in domestic violence and rape and not only on the women in the community but also to the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual. Transgender].”
Evu said this pandemic has also seen disputes among neighbours and families and the closedown of businesses “especially the small businesses that can’t afford to sustain during the crisis.”
“One of the effects that we saw on the women in the communities is the psychological state of mind they go through especially because [they’re thinking], ‘how they gonna get the food to feed the families, to feed the children?’”
Evu said that with physical distancing and stay-at-home (SAH) guidelines in place, those vulnerable to violence had also found it difficult to report it to relevant authorities.
He also said that health security had been affected by the pandemic.
“Most women and members of the family they don’t have accessibility to proper medication and health services that are provided,” he said.
Kaur said, “My husband is a heart patient it was very difficult getting the medicine because he was not allowed to go for checkups or go to hospitals...so it was hard for us.”
Sauka said that during this time, more support and resources needed to be invested into addressing the needs of diverse women in rural communities.
The network members have also made Budget 2020-2021 submissions calling for reviewing the criteria and assessment for the social welfare assistance scheme, increasing the monthly disability and food allowances, making a concerted effort to support people to access and utilise land for farming, and implementing mobile clinics and health and wellness services due to the increased levels of stress, pressure, violence, attempted suicide and kava consumption as copying mechanisms.
