Update: 10:26PM GREATER attention needs to be given to sexually explicit and violent images in the media as these are major contributing factors to violence against women and girls.
This was highlighted at the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre's Pacific Regional Meeting on Violence Against Women yesterday.
"Easy access to sexually explicit and violent films, television shows and internet sites normalise images of dead and ravished womens bodies and are likely to de-sensitise the whole of society to sexual violence," said Elizabeth Cox, UNIFEM Pacific's Regional Programme Director.
Hence, much more attention to these contributing factors to violence against women and girls is needed, Ms Cox told the 60-plus participants.
She also pointed out that sexual and gender-based violence increases when men are mobile and have money.
Known as "the three Ms" phenomenon, it can be witnessed in areas where large-scale commercial development is under way and large amounts of cash are paid to male landowners, she said.
Ms Cox said the popular trend for these men was to spend money on personal leisure and pleasure.
Another contributing factor to violence against women highlighted was the breakdown of law and order.
"Women are also at an increased risk of being sexually abused during times of heightened powerlessness and breakdown of law and order, such as after being displaced by natural disasters or during conflicts," said Ms Cox.
"Women with disabilities are also at high risk of sexual abuse and other forms of gender-based violence."
