Credit UN Women Fiji MCO Gregory RavoiAdvancing Our Mission To End Violence Against Women And Girls
14/06/2024
Regional – Surrounded by over 200 partners in Suva and virtually, the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and
Girls (Pacific Partnership) proudly announced today the successful completion of Phase I (2018-2023) of its
comprehensive programme addressing gender-based in the Pacific and commencement of Phase II (2024-2027).
The Pacific Partnership brings together governments, 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. In Phase II, the programme is funded primarily by the Government of Australia, and the European Union (EU),
and jointly implemented by UN Women and the Pacific Community (SPC), in strategic partnership with the Pacific Islands
Forum. It builds on the achievements of Phase I (2018-2023)) and wide-ranging regional and national partnership and
initiatives on gender equality and ending violence against women and girls.
The event hosted civil society partners and government ministers from Fiji, Kiribati, and Solomon Islands, including
virtual participation from Samoa, and high-level government officials from Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands,
Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
As a key partner, His Excellency Ewen McDonald, Australia's High Commissioner in Fiji, and Australia's inaugural Special
Envoy for the Pacific and Regional Affairs said: “The Australia Government is committed to gender equality and ending
violence against women and girls in the Pacific as a means to contribute to multiple development outcomes. We remain
committed to addressing gender-based violence comprehensively through the launch of Phase II of the Pacific Partnership
to End Violence Against Women and Girls programme in partnership with UN Women, the Pacific Community, and the Pacific
Islands Forum as a strategic partner.”
Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert, the Ambassador of the European Union to the Pacific said: “The European Union has
supported efforts to fight violence against women and girls in the Pacific since 2018 through the Pacific Partnership
Phase I. We are committed to continue supporting its second phase until 2027. The European Union and the Pacific
countries who are signatories to the Samoa Agreement have jointly reaffirmed their commitment to adopt the necessary
legislation and policy measures to eliminate all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly domestic
violence. The European Union stands resolute in its resolve to promote gender equality and to address all forms of
gender-based violence, investing in prevention and protection, as well as in legislation, creating a robust and holistic
legal framework.”
As she shared on the successes and challenges of the past five years plans for the Phase II, Delphine Serumaga,
Representative of UN Women Pacific shared on the uniqueness of the Pacific Partnership.
“The strength of the Pacific Partnership has always been its comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach and recognition
that addressing violence against women and girls requires a sustained, systematic, and long-term commitment to address
root causes. We know that preventing and ending gender-based violence is possible. Here, Pacific partnerships are vital.
With the support of the Australian Government and the EU, UN Women, SPC and with PIF’s strategic advisory role, we are
proud to build on decades of work by Pacific Island governments, regional organisations, the women’s movement, civil
society, and countless individuals across the region. In Phase II, we are committed to enhancing our prevention efforts
and support services, during, and after emergencies and on an ongoing basis in people’s lives in communities.”
Similarly, for SPC, as it embarks on the Phase II, Tara J. S. Chetty, Deputy Director, Human Rights and Social
Development Division, shared:
“We celebrate our achievements together over the last five years and our joint commitment to prevent and end
gender-based violence, by making sure the next phase of our work is effective. In Phase II, SPC will strengthen the
Social Citizenship Education program through a whole of school and whole of community approach. This includes upscaling
the curriculum intervention in target countries by working with Ministries of Education, teachers, and teacher training
institutes; developing gender-responsive school policies; and strengthening social citizenship school clubs to influence
school culture. We also plan to partner with young people through Ministries for Youth to build a pool of trainers to
deliver community-based interventions.”
Further adding, “Our work with you all under this Pacific Partnership will be complemented by SPC’s broader portfolio of
work to end violence against women and girls. This includes support to the Regional Working Group on the implementation
of family protection and domestic violence legislation, and the Pacific Women Lead programme, guided by SPC’s Principal
Strategic Lead - Pacific Women and Girls.”
While UN Women cover 14 and 27 countries respectively, through the Pacific Partnership there will be targeted
programming in the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon
Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, for Phase II. The programme will work with partners beyond the eight countries
through its regional programming.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (Pacific Partnership)
The Pacific region has some of the highest rates of violence against women recorded in the world – twice the global
average with an estimated two in every three Pacific women impacted by gender-based violence. Along with high rates of
violence – a grave human rights violation - women and girls in the Pacific region experience constant and continual
inequalities including low levels of participation in decision-making, limited economic opportunities, and restricted
access to critical services and rights.
The Pacific Partnership brings together governments, 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. In Phase II, the programme is funded primarily by the Government of Australia, and the European Union, and
jointly coordinated by UN Women and the Pacific Community (SPC), in strategic partnership with the Pacific Islands
Forum.
It builds on the achievements of Phase I and wide-ranging regional and national partnership and initiatives on gender
equality and ending violence against women and girls.
UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO)
UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment
in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. The UN Women
Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Fiji, covers 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs): Cook Islands,
Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon
Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The Fiji MCO works to progress gender equality and women’s empowerment in
the Pacific through four key programmes: Women’s Economic Empowerment; Ending Violence Against Women and Girls; Women’s
Political Empowerment and Leadership; and Gender and Protection in Humanitarian Action.