The head of the province of Cakaudrove in Fiji wants the 134 villages under his jurisdiction to adopt a zero tolerance approach to violence against women and children.
Ro Aca Mataitini helped launch a ban on violence against women and children at Vunivesi village in Vanua Levu last week, the first of its kind on the island.
The ban is an initiative by the Ministry of Women, working in conjunction with the provincial council.
Ro Aca Mataitini says any incidence of violence against a woman or child will be referred straight to the police.
"Any report that comes up with regards to violence on women and children, it will not be excused. There will be no traditional apologies accepted that used to be done before. It will be handled by the police and be taken very seriously."
Ro Aca Mataitini says the goal is for the ban to be adopted by all villages in the province by the end of next year.
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