Public health policing in the Pacific Islands: Responding to gender-based violence

• In Event: POL Panel 6. Policing gender-based violence, rape and domestic abuse

Abstract

Knowledge about policing has been produced and disseminated unevenly so that our understanding comes from a skewed emphasis on the Global North. There is much variation in the nature of policing globally which requires deeper understanding in order to identify alternative approaches, understand good practices in different contexts, and to better inform how and why changes to improve occur or are stifled (Jardine & van Dijk, 2022). The Pacific Islands represents diverse cultural and geographic sites for exploring the roles of police as they relate to different functions, especially their roles in response to gender-based violence. This paper presents initial findings based on original research in the Pacific Island of Fiji. Despite high prevalence of gender-based violence, both customary and legalistic interventions are inadequate. The dominance of religion and sport are used as means to raise awareness and implement prevention programs, yet access to justice is limited as a result of police attitudes to victim-survivors and lack of tangible resources (i.e., transport, facilities and infrastructure) to respond even when they attempt to do so. Police in Fiji have been able to adapt quickly and positively in relation to other public health challenges, such as COVID-19 (Chand et al 2023), yet, prioritisation of gender-responsive policing, also a public health issue, remains stubbornly low. This paper explores the unique context for policing in Fiji and the possibilities for unique interventions to reduce gender-based violence and increase access to justice.

Authors

• Melissa Jardine, University of the Sunshine Coast

• Kerry Carrington, University of Sunshine Coast

• Helen Singh, University of the Sunshine Coast