Vere Adi Lili Raikadroka

ESSAY SUBMISSION

Theme: Balance the Scales: Empowering Fijian Women and Girls through Education 

Balancing the Scales Through Education and Justice 

Five years ago, when I was in Year 13, my life changed forever. What should have been a normal journey home became the darkest moment of my life. I was raped by a taxi driver, someone I trusted to take me home safely. In that moment, I learned what it truly means to live in a world where women are often looked down upon, silenced, and treated as though their pain does not matter.

 

The trauma did not end after the attack. In many ways, it was only the beginning. I gathered the courage to go to the police station and report what had happened to me. I believed justice would protect me. I believed someone would listen. Instead, I felt invisible. I was treated as though my voice carried no weight. No one seemed willing to help me. The system that was supposed to protect women made me feel abandoned and broken.

 

As a young woman in Fiji, I realized that many girls and women face similar struggles every day. Some are victims of violence in their homes, schools, workplaces, or communities. Others face discrimination because society still believes women should stay silent, obey, and accept suffering. Too many women are afraid to speak because they fear shame, judgment, or rejection. Sadly, some never receive justice at all.

 

For a long time, I carried anger, fear, and pain inside me. I questioned my worth and my future. I wondered why women must fight so hard just to be heard. But through my suffering, I also discovered strength. I promised myself that one day I would rise above my pain and speak out for women and girls who cannot speak for themselves. I decided that my story would not end in silence. Instead, it would become a message of courage, awareness, and hope.

 

This is why I strongly believe that learning programmes in Fiji can help balance the scales by breaking discrimination, building rights awareness, and ensuring justice for women. Education is one of the most powerful tools in the world. It can change minds, transform communities, and protect future generations. When people are educated about respect, equality, and human rights, society becomes safer for women and girls.

 

One important way learning programmes can help is by teaching young people about gender equality from an early age. Boys and girls should grow up understanding that every human being deserves respect, dignity, and safety. Schools should teach students about consent, healthy relationships, and the importance of protecting women’s rights. Many cases of violence happen because harmful attitudes are passed down from generation to generation. Some boys are raised to believe they are more powerful than girls, while girls are taught to remain quiet even when they are hurt. Education can break these dangerous beliefs and replace them with respect and understanding.

 

Learning programmes can also empower women and girls to know their rights. Many victims of abuse do not report crimes because they are unaware of the laws and services available to protect them. In some communities, women are told to keep family matters private, even when violence occurs. This silence allows abuse to continue. If women are educated about their legal rights and the support systems available, they will have more confidence to seek help and demand justice. Knowledge gives people power.

 

Another important area is improving how authorities respond to victims of violence. My own experience taught me that reporting abuse is not enough if victims are ignored or dismissed. Police officers, healthcare workers, teachers, and community leaders need proper training to handle cases of violence with compassion and seriousness. Victims should never feel blamed or ashamed for what happened to them. Instead, they should feel protected, respected, and supported. Learning programmes for law enforcement and public servants can help create a justice system that truly cares about survivors.

 

In Fiji, culture and tradition are deeply important, but sometimes harmful practices hide behind the excuse of culture. Women are often expected to endure pain quietly to avoid bringing shame to their families. This mindset must change. Protecting women is not against culture; it is about protecting humanity. Communities, churches, schools, and youth groups must work together to promote respect and equality. When leaders speak openly against violence and discrimination, they inspire others to do the same.

 

Mental health support is another area that learning programmes should address. Survivors of violence often carry emotional scars for years. Anxiety, depression, fear, and trauma can affect education, work, and relationships. After my experience, there were days when I felt completely lost and hopeless. However, healing became possible when I realized I was not weak for surviving. Women need access to counseling, safe spaces, and emotional support so they can rebuild their confidence and lives. No survivor should feel alone.

 

Technology and social media can also be used to raise awareness and create change. Young people today are connected through phones and online platforms. Campaigns against gender violence can spread powerful messages across Fiji and beyond. Survivors can use their voices to educate others and encourage victims to seek help. When stories are shared, silence is broken, and society is forced to confront the truth.

 

Although my experience brought pain, it also gave me purpose. I now understand the importance of standing up for women’s rights and speaking against injustice. I want to become someone who encourages survivors not to give up. I want young girls to know that their voices matter and that their dreams are valid. I want boys and men to become protectors, not perpetrators. Most importantly, I want a future where women can walk home safely without fear.

 

Balancing the scales means creating a society where women and men are treated equally, where justice is fair, and where victims are not silenced. It means removing the barriers that prevent women from living freely and safely. It means teaching future generations that violence against women is never acceptable. Real change will not happen overnight, but every lesson taught, every voice raised, and every act of courage brings us one step closer to equality.

 

Today, I refuse to let my past define me as a victim. Instead, I choose to rise as a survivor and an advocate for change. My pain has become my motivation. The same system that once ignored me has inspired me to fight

harder for justice and awareness. One day, I hope to share my story not only in my home, but throughout Fiji and across the world, so that other women know they are not alone.

 

Women are not weak. Women are leaders, survivors, caregivers, dreamers, and fighters. Our voices deserve to be heard. Our lives deserve protection. And our future deserves equality.

 

If Fiji invests in education, awareness, justice, and support systems, we can build a nation where girls and women feel safe, respected, and empowered. We can create a society that does not ignore survivors but stands beside them. We can truly balance the scale