Four projects in Tonga that work to end violence against women were awarded $306,635 (USD) in grants today from the Pacific Regional Ending Violence Against Women Facility Fund.

The UN Women project that reaches thousands of women affected by violence across the Pacific, has given a total to $700,000 (USD) in grants for 11 grantees in eight Pacific island countries this year.

The 2014 grantees for Tonga are:

• the Ministry of Internal Affairs $100,000 (USD);
• the Tonga Women and Children Crisis Centre $100,000 (USD);
• the Tonga National Centre for Women and Children $70,000 (USD);
• the Ma‘a Fafine mo e Famili project $36,635 (USD).

The Acting Australian High Commissioner, Mr Scott McLennan, presented the awards to the recipients this morning in Nuku'alofa.

In a statement, the organisers for the UN Women (Tonga), Ending Violence Against Women project, said that in the Pacific region there are extremely high rates of violence against women and girls.

“Around two out of three Pacific women experiences physical or sexual violence in her lifetime.”

The Fund awards multi-year grants directly to civil society organisations and government partners to help improve the lives of women and girls through the prevention of violence, providing assistance to survivors of violence and promoting policy implementation.

Tonga's Ministry of Internal Affairs will use the funding in addressing the implementation of the Gender Equality Policy and Family Protection Act in Tonga (2013) through technical training for police, justice and health on their role in the realisation of the legislation and engaging communities in building respectful relationships in families.

The Tonga Women and Children Crisis Centre needs the funding for strengthening the provision of their services for victims and survivors, prevention initiatives and for anti-violence promotions in the media and in schools.

The Tonga National Centre for Women and Children will promote Non Violent Community for Women and Girls.

The Ma‘a Fafine mo e Famili received  extension funding for a project to Educate Ending Violence Against Women through a Transformational Leadership Approach.

Attending the presentation were Kepreen Ve’etutu, UN Women Project Coordinator; Milika Tuita, UNDP Joint Presence Office - Tonga; and representatives of the grantees,  Lopeti Senituli and Tupou‘ahau Fakakovi (Internal Affairs); Fuiva Kavaliku and Lola Koloamatangi (TNCWC); ‘Ofa Likiliki and Lesila Tohi (WCCC); Betty Blake and ‘Isapela Tu’ivai (Ma’a Fafine).