12th Pacific Science Inter-Congress, 8-12 July 2013
University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay Campus, Suva, Fiji
Do women around the Pacific experience
similar types of violence?
Henrica A.F.M. (Henriette) Jansen1, Gaberiella Ilolahia2,
Edwina Kotoisuva3, Mia Rimon4, Merilyn Tahi5, Tina
Tauasosi-Posiulai6, Maere Tekanene7
1
UNFPA PSRO, henriette.jansen@gmail.com
2
Ma’a Fafine mo e Famili Inc.,Tonga, gilole40@live.com
3
Fiji Women’s Crisis Center, edwina.kotoisuva@gmail.com
4
Secretariat of the Pacific Community, miar@spc.int
5
Vanuatu Women’s Centre, vwnc@vanuatu.com.vu
6
University of Hawaii, tina.posiulai@gmail.com
7
Ministry of Education, Kiribati, gbvcakiribas@gmail.com
In response to the lack of official national statistics on the
magnitude and nature of violence against women and to
guide targeted policies and interventions, Governments and
NGOs in a number of countries in the Pacific region, have in
the past decade conducted nationwide studies on this
subject.
The studies that are the focus of this paper took place in
Samoa (2000), Kiribati (2008), Somolon Islands (2008),
Vanuatu (2009), Tonga (2009) and Fiji (2011) and replicated
the method developed for the WHO multi-country study on
Women’s health and domestic violence. Three of these were
part of the UNFPA and AusAID supported multi-country study
in the Pacific Region, three were conducted by national
NGOs.
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12th Pacific Science Inter-Congress, 8-12 July 2013
University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay Campus, Suva, Fiji
Results show that superficially similar rates of women
reporting ever having experienced physical or sexual violence
in their lifetime, in reality hide a huge regional and cultural
diversity. Strikingly partner violence is in most but not in all
countries the most common type of violence that women
experienced in their lifetime. The results further show
consistent associations with health outcomes, effects on
children as well as with certain risk factors. Another salient
finding is that violence against women is very much hidden
and almost none of the women who reported violence had
sought help from formal services or people in authority.
The findings have important implications for targetted and
context specific policies and interventions. In all sites
minimum comprehensive package of services to ensure that
women’s rights are protected and realized are needed.
Further community attitudes need to be challenged.
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12th Pacific Science Inter-Congress, 8-12 July 2013
University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay Campus, Suva, Fiji
Key words: Pacific, violence against women, national
prevalence surveys, data for action
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