THE NGO Coalition on Human Rights says there should not be any impunity to allegations of sexual offences levelled against police officers.
The coalition was responding to the launching of police investigations into the recent allegations of a 19-year-old girl being allegedly sexually assaulted by two police officers in Nabua, Suva on Wednesday.
Coalition chairperson Nalini Singh said a sexual offence was the worse form of physical and psychological infringement of a person’s life.
“There should be a transparent and independent investigation by the Fiji Police Force in this case involving police officers,” Ms Singh said.
“The involvement of a sex worker should not be a deterrent to take the matter seriously. We welcome the Fiji Police Sexual Offences Unit’s response to these allegations, in launching an investigation.”
This is important because the authorities bear the responsibility for ending impunity for sexual offences, it is a crime and a serious violation of human rights.”
She said there must be justice for the victim.
Ms Singh said as publicised during the Fiji Women’s Right Movement’s “It’s Not OK: Stop Sexual Harassment Campaign” last year, it was noted that of the women who had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, 25 per cent were working in the public service industry.
