Cyber Bullying

According to statistics from United Nations, women are 27% more likely to be subjected to cyber violence than men. Cyber bullying has a detrimental effect on ones mental state. It leads to an invasion of privacy where there is shame, humiliation and embarrassment associated with being a victim. Hence this is a large social issue that must be dealt with appropriately at a federal level, where there is enforcement of harsher cyber laws to prevent young women from being suppressed by cyber bullies.

Cyber bullying includes:

v  Rude text messages or emails

v  Rumours sent by email or posted on social networking sites.

v  Embarrassing pictures or videos of a person sent on networks.

v  Websites made to bully certain individuals or make fun of a person.

v  Fake profiles.

Tips:

1)      Be aware of what sites you visit, the security, privacy and confidentiality associated with that site.

2)      Refrain from accepting requests from strangers or people you have not met personally.

3)      Avoid sexting or sending any images, videos or material that is at risk of leaking onto sites or being unwantedly shared to people.

4)      Be aware that if you are planning to send material that poses yourself at harm or others at harm, then the person or site you are sending it to may not be trustworthy.

5)      Be careful of what you post on social media websites, as it can be shared on other sites and used against you.

6)      If a friend, colleague or family member is cyber bullying you, then you must tell them to stop and that it makes you uncomfortable. If it continues, you can report and block the person on the social media website and/or report to the Police.

7)      Parents should be aware of their child's online activities and should encourage their children if they or someone they know is being cyber bullied.

8)      It is important to immediately alert your parents or any trusted adult if you are being cyber bullied.

9)      If a person sends you rude text messages or death threats, DO NOT DELETE these messages as it can be used as evidence to be given to the police.

Links to the Kid's Health Organisation's information on cyber bullying is in the description below.

http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cyberbullying.html

7 Steps to Personal Growth and Success

This article is aimed to provide a short and succinct list of points that I believe would benefit all readers especially students. I wrote this article during my placement with the Fiji Women's Rights Movement and it has also been published on the Fiji Times newspaper as shown on the right.

1.       1.  Be determined and focused on a goal:
You must ignore and avoid obstacles or people that prevent you from succeeding or aspiring for a goal. Negativity in life is inevitable and has the potential to hinder and distract those from succeeding however being of focused on your goals and reminding yourself that nothing can stop you except you own will, will ensure that you continue to strive for your goals.

2.       2. Be strong and independent:
You must remind yourself that you are mentally and physically strong and have the capability to deal with emotional issues and hardships. Self-reassurance is the key to gaining personal strength and confidence. Independence is vital in learning how the real world works and you must undertake responsibilities o develop your resilience and independence.

3.          3.  Critically analyse situations:
It is important to develop skills of critical thinking to be able to assess scenarios and find out the best possible solution. This is a vital skill that will assist you in everyday life. For example, if you find yourself in a dangerous situation you must analyse the area you are in, the people you are with, who you can speak to for help and what is the best possible solution. This helps  in the decision making process in school, work or in everyday public settings.

4.         4.  Participate, learn and get involved:
Always attempt to get involved in sports, leadership, activities and events to platform your status as a leader and all-rounder individual. By participating in sports you gain skills in quick thinking, communication and cooperation that will assist you in employment and future endeavours. Get involved in politics and other leadership roles to have a say in your rights and how your community and country should be governed.

5.        5.  Personal health and well-being:
It is important to keep a healthy mind and body. Meditation, eating healthy and physical exercise will help maintain good health and provide you with the correct mindset to strive for your goals and succeed in life. It is scientifically proven that having a nutritional diet along with adequate daily physical exercise results in a healthy body image that boosts self-confidence and ensures good personal well-being.

6.         6. Get organised and be punctual:
Organisational skills are important in all aspects of life and is an important factor that prompts success. Filing documents into different coloured folders, labelling items and keeping reminders on devices or in a diary can help with organisation. Use a watch, or any other clock to constantly check if you are handing in documents or meeting set requirements in correct time. This eliminates procrastination and gives you time for yourself to relax, sleep or do other activities. Procrastination is a result of sheer laziness and can limit the amount of hours you sleep which can have a negative effect on your mental well-being and memory. Hence being organised and punctual will help you on a daily basis that will increase your thinking, spare time and aid in future endeavours.

7.      7.  Learn from mistakes and help others:
It is essential to learn from your mistakes to grow as an individual. Mistakes allow us to understand where we went wrong, where to improve and how to ensure it doesn't happen again. It is therefore a fundamental factor in succeeding in all departments of work, schooling and in future endeavours.  By volunteering in a community, it helps broaden your understanding on areas and people in a community that need assistance in education, health, jobs, or everyday life. By assisting others, you enhance your communication skills and gain a better perspective on people's lives and the world around you. 

Sexual Assault

It is important to know the legal definitions of sexual assault and sexual harassment to know what constitutes it as a federal crime and to be aware of who to report to or where to seek advice from.

Definition: A person commits sexual assault if they intentionally sexually touch another person and the person does not consent. Sexual assault includes rape and attempted rape, child molestation, forced pregnancy and sexual violence. When a person intentionally sexually penetrates another person or causes another person to sexually penetrate them without the consent of that person and is aware of the lack of consent, it constitutes as rape and is a federal crime.

A common mistake made is what people perceive the terms consent and penetration to be.
Consent means a fee and voluntary agreement. To sexually penetrate means to insert a part of a person's body or an object manipulated by the person into the genitalia, anus or mouth of a person. This means that if you are sexually penetrated without your consent, it falls under the crime of sexual assault and you must report this to the police station, or organisations such as the Fiji Women's Rights Movement, Empower Pacific or Women's Crisis Centre.

Tips:

      1.   If anyone is requesting you to engage in sexual activity with them , reply with a firm 'NO!' and leave the place immediately.

      2.  If a person physically restricts you from leaving him or her or a particular place, kick punch, shout and scream for help.

\     3.  Try not to travel alone in isolated and common crime settings. Instead, always try to have at least one other trusted friend or family member with you at all times.

      4.  If you are at a party or social event, do not take a lift or travel with unknown strangers.

      5. Contact emergency services if you find yourself in a dangerous situation.

      6.  Before travelling to an event, critically analyse the risks involved and whether it will be safe for you to attend.

      7.   Organise your transport to and from a place beforehand, preferably with a trusted adult.

Links to the World Health Organisation's information on Sexual Violence and the Fijian Crime Definitions on Sexual Assault are in the description below.

http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/global_campaign/en/chap6.pdf

http://www.fiji.gov.fj/getattachment/604e31fc-c7b1-41a0-9686-71377917b6eb/Decree-No-44---Crimes-Decree-2009-(pdf).aspx

Sexual harrassment

Many girls are subject to sexual harassment at school, in the work place, at home and in general public settings. It can lead to embarrassment, loss of confidence and can have a negative impact on an individual both mentally, physically and socially. Sexual harassment towards young girls makes them feel inferior towards men in society. The fact that sexual harassment cases are often looked over and not handled by authorities in a formal and appropriate manner has a detrimental effect on one's confidence, esteem, physical and mental well-being.

What is sexual harassment?
Definition: Sexual harassment is any form of offensive sexual attention that is uninvited and unwelcome. It can occur between persons of the opposite or same sex and it does not need to be a series of incidents or even an ongoing pattern of behaviour. One single act can constitute harassment (Fiji National Policy).

Note: For Fiji’s legislations, only the Employment Relations Promulgations addresses sexual harassment while the Crimes Decree refers to it as sexual assaults. According to Fiji’s legislation, their definition of sexual harassment is that it only happens in the work place and cases as such dealt with in Employment Relations Tribunal. Occurring outside workplace setting is regarded as crime of sexual assault in the Crimes Decree and is dealt with in the Courts.

It includes:

·         Unwanted and unwelcome sexual remarks, advances, gestures, flirtations and behaviour.

·         Visual material that is sexist, sexually explicit.

·         Leering, pinching, touching.

·         Comments and questions about another person's sexuality, sexual conduct or private relationships.

·         Gender-biased bullying or intimidation

·         Propositions, requests or pressure for sexual favours or activities.

·         The soliciting of sexual favours in exchange for promotion or any work related benefit or reward.

·         Rejection of behaviour of a sexual nature, by a worker, is used as the basis for  decisionsfor decisions affecting the worker's career.

·         Behaviour unreasonably interfering with a worker's performance and overall comfort.

·         Offensive written, telephone or electronic mail or other computer system communications.

This means that if you have experienced or are experiencing any of the above, then you can make a complaint and report this to the Police Human Rights Commission, and organisations such asLegal Aid, Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commissionthe Police, the Fiji Women's Rights Movement and the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre.

Tips:

1.       If a person is requesting you to engage in sexual activity with them, or making unwanted sexual remarks then reply with a firm 'No!' and sternly tell them that you do not like it, it makes you uncomfortable and that they must stop.

2.       If it continues report to a trusted senior officer in a work place, a teacher or principal in a school, the police, FijiHhuman Rrights and Anti-Discrimination Ccommission, or organisations such as Legal Aid,Fiji Women's Crisis Centre and Fiji Women's Rights Movement.

Links to the United Nations guidelines on sexual harassment and the Fiji National Policy on sexual harassment in the workplace is in the description below.

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/pdf/whatissh.pdf

http://www.labour.gov.fj/bills/National%20Policy%20On%20Sexual%20Harrassment.pdf