Pacific nations unite to tackle violence against women

Last week, the Pacific Islands Forum Pacific Prevention Summit commenced at which attendees collaborated on combatting gender-based violence in the region. The event bought together over 100 delegates from governments, civil society organisations, communities, and other partners to address the issue, the current gaps and how to take action to better protect women and girls.
 
“The Pacific has one of the highest recorded rates of violence against women and girls globally; with 2 out of 3 women who have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime,” said Mereseini Rakuita, the Pacific’s Principal Strategic Lead for Gender. “Violence against women and girls takes a profound and long-term toll on women's health and well-being, on their families and communities and on a nation's development."
 
Honourable Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, Samoa’s Prime Minister, spoke to the changes necessary to combat the issue. “I urge all Pacific Island leaders to make prevention of violence a priority. We need to stop the violence before it even starts, and we can achieve this if we work together.”