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Violence against women is not cultural but criminal, says United States ambassador to Fiji, Steven McGann.
He told an interfaith gathering in Suva this weekend that there is a need to address the global affliction of violence against women and the exploitation of human trafficking victims.
“Violence against women touches Pacific island countries just as it does other nations,” said McGann.
“It is a global problem that cuts across ethnicity, race, class, religion, educational level and international borders.”
“Such violence is not cultural, it’s criminal,” he said.
McGann said gender-based violence is not solely a women’s issue but “a global challenge to human rights security. We’re wiling to provoke all men to engage in ending violence against women”.
“The terrible act of gender-based violence and discrimination comes in many forms that are not limited to any single group, race, ethnicity, religion or denomination.”
“We’re asking all religious leaders of all faiths to incorporate in their messages, consistent with their faith, and their daily activities that we have to work together to end this situation.”
The meeting was hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Islam Fiji, with speakers from the Hindu and Christian faiths addressing the theme of “Respect for other religions from our own religious perspective”.
The diplomat quoted US President Barack Obama’s speech at Cairo University in June 2009 where Obama said that “throughout history Islam had demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality”.
Muslims played an important role in America’s own journey toward racial equality, said McGann.
“Today, history calls again for the Muslim community to be at the forefront of the key social evolutions of our decade, leveling the playing between men and women regardless of race and religion and protecting their individual freedoms and rights of all.”
