People from across the country and Pacific have come together to speak on topics of gender based violence and to understand the root causes and effects of violence in Fiji and the Pacific.

While speaking at the National Cross Gender Dialogue currently underway at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Director and co‑founder of Transcend Oceania Paulo Baleinakorodawa says that the greatest hindrance to addressing the issue of violence is the concept of silence in our culture and that sex is a taboo subject.

Baleinakorodawa says silence on the subject of violence allows men to be of the mentality that they have the power to do whatever they want to women who they consider weak and vulnerable.

He says from his work experience a lot of this mentality comes from society wanting them to become a particular type of man.

Lora Tuwai a young mother from Bua also expressed her feelings on the punishment given to perpetrators of gender based offences.

She says even a life sentence as punishment is not enough as the victims will think of the incident and suffer throughout their lives.