From silence to strength: How SafeNet empowers women and restores trust in Kiribati

“From a young age, we have witnessed men's violence towards women and accepted it as part of our culture. Domestic violence was normal to us”, says Timon Ioteba* a police officer from Abaiang Island, Kiribati. “So, when a woman [experiencing domestic violence] comes to the police station, I would simply write it down and send her home. I didn’t take it seriously”.

In Kiribati, a country located in the central Pacific Ocean, about 4,000 km southwest of Hawaii, gender-based violence (GBV) has long been widely prevalent, affecting two-thirds of women and girls. However, only one percent of them sought help from the police, according to a 2010 national study. The normalisation of violence, fear of shame and blame, and a lack of trust in the justice system discouraged most women from seeking help. 

UN Women has been working closely with the Ministry of Women, Youth, Sport and Social Affairs (MWYSSA) to strengthen a national network of GBV response service providers called SafeNet. Made up of government and non-government members, their overall aim is to provide the best possible services for all women and girls who have experienced violence. 

Transforming norms and attitudes among the police

When professionally trained police handle cases of GBV, it ensures the survivor's safety and reduces their risk of victimisation. A survivor's positive initial contact experience with the justice system can also encourage other survivors to report abuse and seek justice, health, and psychosocial services.

With these outcomes in mind, the Kiribati Police Service, a SafeNet member, began rethinking its approach to handling gender-based violence. In 2019, the Kiribati Police Services introduced the Domestic Violence and Sexual Offence Standing Orders and Procedures, which provides clear instructions to police officers on how to handle GBV cases. This includes issuing safety orders, documenting and investigating incidents, and referring survivors to additional services provided by other SafeNet members. In 2019, the Police GBV Training Manual was developed to further equip the entire police sector with the knowledge and skills needed to address GBV and challenge harmful norms and attitudes towards survivors.

Ioteba vividly recalls the transformative impact of UN Women’s training, describing it as “eye-opening”.  “I learned that we must act according to our duties as police, not based on cultural beliefs. After the training, I put what I learned into practice. I made sure the safety of survivors, took them to a hospital and a safe place. I did what was best for them. I cared for them. And you can really see the impact on women. They trust that we have sufficient services to support them. That makes me so proud”, exclaims Ioteba who now trains other police officers in Abaiang island. 

In South Tarawa, the initiative has also removed many of the barriers that women survivors initially faced. Those fleeing violence can now seek temporary shelter at the Domestic Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit (DCSU). Additionally, survivors can access a Survivor Support Fund from any police station in the capital to receive justice, medical and psychosocial services, accompanied by a dedicated female police officer.  

Eribwebwe Takirua, a coordinator at the DCSU, emphasises that building trust and confidence in the police is an integral part of crime prevention and community safety. “If the police properly respond to domestic violence, it can be reduced because it sends a message to the community that it is a crime. Now, the police are more confident and aware of their roles in handling gender-based violence. Simultaneously, we are receiving more cases because women know where to seek help”.

Healing hearts in a safe house 

About a 30-minute drive from DCSU, along a narrow road that cuts across the capital, stands a tranquil residence. Gentle ocean winds sweep through its rooms, carrying the soothing melodies of hymns.

"We want women to feel safe, welcomed, and at home here. We want them to know that they are cared for and loved by God," says Sister Kateia Teanako from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) crisis center. Established in 1993, it is the only center in Kiribati providing long-term accommodation for women and girls who have survived violence, referred by police or other service providers.  

In this predominantly Christian country, faith-based services like OLSH hold a unique position for women seeking help. Since 2018, through the SafeNet partnership, OLSH has collaborated with Kiribati Women and Children Support Center (KWCSC), a local women’s organisation specialised in GBV counselling.  

"Kiribati is a small country. Perpetrators are aware of our staff and the work we do. We have experienced incidents where perpetrators attempted to enter our premises at KWCSC. However, both the perpetrators and the community hold deep respect for the nuns, so it ensures the safety of both women and staff working at the shelter”, explains KWCSC. Today, survivors can receive confidential GBV counselling, legal services, and case management from KWCSC in a secure and protective environment at the OLSH center. 

"Rather than giving advice or passing judgment, we listen to survivors' needs and provide them with available options. We respect the choices survivors make and offer unwavering support along their journey. It brings me joy to witness imprisoned women become empowered, knowing that we are always here for them, no matter how many times they turn to us."

Recognising the critical role of GBV specialised counsellors, MWYSSA, supported by UN Women, has launched the National Domestic Violence Counselling Guidelines and counsellor registration system. While the country currently only has four qualified GBV counsellors, it aims to increase the number of qualified counsellors across the country in the coming years.

* Names have been changed to protect identity of the individuals.