Allowing former Fiji 7s player and convicted rapist Amenoni Nasilasila to continue playing rugby while serving his prison term is sending a very dangerous signal to youths, says Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre coordinator Shamima Ali.
She said her statement yesterday was the seventh time the Centre had condemned Nasilasila’s inclusion in the Warden’s team in Fiji Rugby Union-sanctioned tournaments.
She said despite all FWCC’s efforts, and condemnation from Women Minister Rosy Akbar and various other organisations, the FRU continued to ignore the lived realities of women and girls in the country.
“While our women’s and men’s sevens teams shine on the global stage, it is shameful that here at home, Fiji Rugby continues to allow convicted rapist Amenoni Nasilasila, amongst others, to play in local sevens tournaments,” she said.
Ms Ali said Fiji had one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world and one only had to read the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) monthly statistics on sexual crimes to realise the horrific reality of rape.
“Shame on FRU, shame on the sponsors and shame on the Corrections Service for their ignorance.
“We wrote to Fiji Rugby in July, 2020 and the Corrections Service in April this year.
“There has been no response to date.
“The Fiji National Action Plan to Prevent Violence against All Women and Girls led by the Fijian Government, where all of Government and civil society came together and worked over four years, is currently being finalised.
“Actions by Fiji Rugby and the Fiji Corrections Service are counter-productive to this sterling national effort to end the scourge of violence against women and girls in Fiji.”
