The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement is calling on media outlets to censor victim blaming and hate speech on their online platforms.

The FWRM said this in a statement issued in the wake of the brutal killing of a young woman, allegedly at the hands of her partner.

“It is crucial to recognise and challenge the harmful narrative of victim-blaming that often surrounds these cases,” the FWRM said.

“No one should ever be blamed for the violence inflicted upon them.

“We need to shift the conversation towards accountability, support, and prevention. “For too long, victims of IPV have been unfairly burdened with blame and shame, perpetuating a cycle of silence and stigma.

“This culture of silence perpetuates the cycle of violence by allowing the perpetrators to go unchecked and most essentially requires support from families.

“The rise of victim-blaming on online forums and in comments of media posts is disgraceful.

“FWRM urges media outlets to monitor their platforms vigilantly and censor hate speech and victim blaming rhetoric such as “She probably deserved it”.

“Such comments disrespect the life of the victim.”