The first young woman has announced her intention to stand in the Fiji elections but she says she has had to face hostility as a result including rape threats on social media sites.
Roshika Deo wants to stand as an independent in the polls which have been promised for next year.
She says the hostile reaction has been mostly from men and a bit overwhelming but she says she is prepared and committed to starting a campaign based on active citizenship.
"It basically tells me that our society is still patriarchally entrenched there is still a lot of misogyny around, and that representation is something that we really have to work hard to get and democracy for that matter."
Roshika Deo says she plans to campaign using social networking sites as well as going out into the communities.
