Surviving in the market space

Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2020

How has COVID 19 impacted Pacific women and girls? As some Pacific island nations reverse COVID 19-related restrictions, states are beginning to shift their focus on rejuvenating their economies.

Pacific Conference of Churches & Pacific Partnership strengthen efforts to address violence against women and girls across the Pacific

Date: Friday, July 24, 2020

For immediate release [Joint press release] Pacific Conference of Churches & Pacific Partnership strengthen efforts to address violence against women and girls across the Pacific. Photo: UN Women & Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Friday 24 July 2020 (Suva, Fiji) – The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) and the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (Pacific Partnership) reaffirmed their existing partnership and commitment to gender equality and...

UN Women: Gender-based violence has no place in society

Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Violence against women and girls is a grave violation of human rights. Its impact ranges from immediate to long-term multiple physical, sexual and mental consequences for women and girls, including death. It negatively affects women’s general well-being and prevents women from fully participating in society.

Across the Pacific, crisis centres respond to COVID-19 amid natural disasters

Date: Thursday, June 11, 2020

Gender-based violence crisis centres from six countries in the Pacific have faced not only the COVID-19 crisis, but also in some countries, the dual impact of a tropical cyclone. UN Women’s Ending Violence Against Women and Girls programme works in close collaboration with government, civil society organisations, communities and other partners to promote gender equality, prevent violence against women and girls, and increase access to quality response services for survivors, especially during emergencies.

Early preparations and data-gathering mark responses to COVID-19 in Fiji and Tonga

Date: Thursday, June 11, 2020

As COVID-19 started making headlines back in January, crisis centres for survivors of violence against women in the Pacific started preparing for the possible implications, should it reach their shores. Having experienced multiple natural disasters and emergencies over the years, they knew that rates and severity of domestic violence escalate during crises, often coupled with disruptions to support services and a deprioritization of women and girls’ safety by state, police and other essential services.

Across the Pacific region, crisis centres respond to increased cases of violence against women amid COVID-19

Date: Thursday, June 11, 2020

As COVID-19 prevention measures in the Pacific region and around the world limited movement and encouraged home isolation, the number of women seeking domestic violence support services have surged. In Samoa, there has been a 150 per cent increase in the number of helpline calls, compared to the same time last year, says Silliniu Lina Chang, President of the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG). “Tensions build as families are hit by unemployment, and from not being able to provide for...

Category-5 Cyclone Resilient Rakiraki Market Opens

Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2020

The people of Rakiraki today celebrated the official opening of the new Rakiraki Market by Prime Minister, Rear Admiral (RET) Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama. The new structure is a great example of the partnership between the Government of Fiji, and the Australian Government through the Markets for Change project implemented by UN Women. The new market is Category 5 cyclone-resilient and includes a 40-bed accommodation centre for rural women vendors to stay overnight, improving their personal security and the safety of their produce.

Film made by women shows women struggling with climate change in Fiji

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Three women led the making of the film in 2018 when they were students at Massey University/The University of New Zealand: Wiktoria Ojrzyńska as director, co-producer and editor, Amiria Ranfurly as co-producer, and Alexandra Brock as cinematographer and editor. Subject to Change shows scenes of near-apocalyptic destruction wreaked by cyclones and climate-induced disasters.Through the voices of women like Ravaga, the film offers moments of reflection on how much there is to lose — land, culture, languages, life.

Engaging Pacific Men to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls

Date: Monday, September 16, 2019

Violence against women and girls can be stopped if all members of society, especially men and boys, condemn it and take action.

National support for better counselling and support for domestic violence victims

Date: Friday, September 6, 2019

Victims of domestic violence and other sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) require specially trained counsellors and support services to recover from the violence.