Pacific peoples and family violence: new resources and international meetings

The Ministry of Social Development's Pasefika Proud has published a number of new resources that provide information on Pacific peoples and family violence.

The paper Pacific Peoples in New Zealand (September 2016) collates data on a number of topics including family violence and experience with Child Youth and Family (CYF). The section on family violence includes data from a number of sources about family violence including deaths, hospitalisations, youth experiences of violence and child punishment. The section on CYF provides data on the number of Pacific children in state custody and out-of-home care and the types of abuse experienced by children involved with CYF.

Two infographics provide a snapshot of easy-to-read data. The infographic Understanding Family Violence (June 2016) includes data on family violence, resilience factors and risk factors. The infographic Understanding Who We Are (June 2016) highlights data including employment, income, health and education. The infographics are also available in hard copy by emailing pasefika_proud@msd.govt.nz.

Two brief research summaries outline formative evaluations of Pacific family violence services. The Formative Evaluation of Pacific Provider-Based Family Violence Services (September 2016) includes key points about service design and delivery models, positive outcomes, factors contributing to success, findings from the literature review and recommendations. The Formative Evaluation of Pacific Faith-Based Family Violence Services (September 2016) sets out benefits to participants, key points from the literature review, challenges in delivering initiatives and recommendations.

International meetings address violence against women in the Pacific 

The 11th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting took place in September 2016 in Apia, Samoa. The theme for the meeting was Gender Equality through Sustainable Development in an inclusive Commonwealth. It included discussions on violence against women and girls. New Zealand Minister for Women Louise Upston attended and outlined New Zealand's work to address gender equality and women’s empowerment in a speech. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals were also discussed. Maiava Iulai Toma, Samoa's Ombudsman, announced a national inquiry into violence at a special meeting on family violence running alongside the Ministers' meeting. He said his office would release a scoping paper to define the enquiry and seek funding.

The announcement and meeting follow on from the meeting of the Pacific Women's Network Against Violence Against Women held in August in Fiji. 

Related media

Commonwealth women's summit in Apia closes, Radio NZ, 09.09.2016

Commonwealth pledges support for Pacific development, Radio NZ, 09.09.2016

Think outside the box, urges Tongan advocate, Radio NZ, 09.09.2016

"Scourge of violence" focus for Apia meeting, Radio NZ, 07.09.2016

National inquiry into violence for Samoa, Radio NZ, 07.09.2016

Pacific urged to build on improvements to protecting women, Radio NZ, 05.09.2016

Pacific women call for investigation of women's rights in West Papua, Radio NZ, 25.08.2016