The White Ribbon Day 25 November was marked in Tonga today as part of an international campaign led by men speaking out to end violence against women and girls.

Lord Vaea the Minister for Internal Affairs said a 2008 survey by the Ma’a Fafine mo e Famili Organisation revealed that three out of four women in Tonga had experienced physical or sexual violence in their lives by a partner or non-partner.

The same report said that physical violence by non-partners against women (mainly childhood and teenage years) is among the highest in the world.

Tonga’s 2nd Millenium Development Goals Report 2010 also pointed out domestic violence as a key constraint to progressing forwarding.

The report said that between 2000-09, some 2,753 women were victims of physical abuse and sexual assault with an average of 23 percent of women per month reporting physical or sexual assault. The most common form of violence against women is physical beating.

“This unfortunately is the bleak reality of our national situation however, continuous government efforts in purging this social stain as referred to by the UN Secretary-General includes the bringing into effect the Family Protection Act on July 1, 2014 and the launching of a Revised Policy for Gender and Development,” he said.

Lord Vaea said Government acknowledges the unequivocal presence of violence against women and girls in Tonga.

It had marked White Ribbon Day since 2009, through the financial and technical assistance by the Australian Government, sanctioning the need and call for action by not just the government but by all people, organisations and institutions within Tonga.

He said that we should no longer remain silent and complacent about violence against women and girls.

"We as a nation together with the rest of the world need to initiate our own campaigns to stop and reduce the problem, and as men, we need to commit and pledge that 'real men' must walk the talk against violence against women."

Lord Vaea said the white ribbon is a symbol of hope for the world where women and girls can live free from the fear of violence.

“Wearing the ribbon is about challenging the acceptability of violence – by getting men involved, helping women break the silence and encouraging everyone to come together to build a better world for all.”

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon had said in his address that violence against women and girls....increasingly men are speaking against this stain on our society.

The special program initiated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs began with a march in the CBD. The program continued with songs and skits performaned by youths at the Maamaloa Grounds.