THE Fiji Women's Crisis Centre is keeping a 24-hour phone line open this Christmas in case any woman needs their service.

In wishing people of Fiji a merry Christmas and peaceful New Year, co-ordinator Shamima Ali asked all men to protect women so they could enjoy the festive season.

"Men should behave so that women can be allowed to enjoy Christmas and New Year," she said.

Ms Ali said while we are enjoying the festive season we should also be praying for a quick return to democracy.

The comments came on the second anniversary of the detention by the military, on Christmas Eve 2006, of six pro-democracy campaigners - three of whom were women.

The list included Fiji Women's Rights Movement executive director Virisila Buadromo, her partner Arshad Daud, businesswoman Laisa Digitaki, businessman Imraz Iqbal, and youth activists Jackie Koroi and Pita Waqavonovono.

They were detained at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua.