Transcript
FLORENCE LENGKON: I feel relief in a way. I am not happy. They could have gone and got more sentence handed down to them. I wouldn't say I am happy. I'm just relieved and I can prove that the justice system in Vanuatu does apply to anyone. Basically I can move on with my life and living in fear in public, it is because I am in constant fear when I am around, that they are outside and they are watching me but I am so relieved it is over now, for now.
KOROI HAWKINS: Do you feel safer now?
FL: Actually I don't feel safe anywhere when I am walking around. I always have someone with me when I am driving, especially driving. I still don't feel safe because it is a very small community here and everybody knows each other. There are lots of buses and taxis in Vanuatu, as you know. When I am driving, everybody is looking at me. I have been through counselling which helps, which has helped me overcome my fears, especially dealing with public areas when I am around people, which has helped me a lot to come out otherwise I don't know, I close myself out. So far, I am still not safe in the public, I probably keep a low profile for the moment.
KH: I'm very sorry to hear that Florence, I just want to ask if there is anything you would like to say to women in Vanuatu and in Melanesia who go through, and there are many women, who go through what you've been through in some form in another?
FL: This has been a negative situation for me and it has come out publicly positive for me, especially for one, whereas domestic violence in Vanuatu is common and not everyone comes out to speak. It's dealt with in custom and reconciliation and meetings and I feel it is not appropriate. I feel that men or whoever is involved in domestic violence should be prosecuted. I want to encourage all the other women in the Pacific and in Vanuatu, wherever you are, don't let men look down on you. You have value in you and you have lots and lots of help that you can get. You just need to stand up and get help, especially if you are in a rural area, come out. Speak up. Go and see organisations that can help you, because men and women are equal and we women should not be looked down [on] and we should be treated equally as men. All our distant countries and communities and villages. I feel that we women have more stronger voice and we can make a difference if we help each other and if we speak out against domestic violence as a whole.
KH: I would like to also ask if this has affected the way you interact on Facebook? Are you as vocal in your comments on Facebook on public issues?
FL: Right now I just tend to just read and just have a bit of frustration myself because I feel that whatever I say will always come back to me. I try to just ignore Facebook comments and try to ignore Facebook comments and stay out of Facebook. That's what I do.
KH: Going forward do you think you will feel safer in the future?
FL: Vanuatu is still the safest place in the Pacific. I'm very sure it will all go away in time but I am still waiting for the appeal case. If that comes through then that will determine whether I still feel safe or not. I hope that a lot of women will hear my story and will come out and seek help and together we can all fight domestic violence.
