White Ribbon Day's vision is for all women to live safely, free from all forms of men’s violence. "We must all signal that enough is enough," Tonga's Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell said during events held in Tongatapu and ‘Eua on Saturday, November 25 to mark White Ribbon Day 2017.

White Ribbon Day is an annual day that advocates to stop violence against women.

The Ministry of Police held their White Ribbon Day under a theme "Be Bold and Report Family Violence", at the Angaha Community Hall, in 'Eua, where a poem competition for students was held after a parade from Malau-'O-Vailahi grounds. 

Police Commissioner Caldwell said that domestic violence is an offence in Tonga. "Tonga Police urges people to report it, to allow police to prosecute perpetrators and bring them to account for their conduct."

He said the Family Protection Act provides them with the necessary powers to protect victims of domestic violence and to prosecute offenders.

Tonga Police, however, relies on the community to report crimes against women and children, particularly those committed in the home environment.

"It is the courage of victims coming forward and condemning violence in the home environment that allows police to do their job and send a message to the community that perpetrators of domestic violence will be prosecuted," he said.

He acknowledged the hard work of all people involved in keeping our women and children safe.

"Please take the opportunity over the next 16 Days of Activism to ask yourself why you do this difficult work. It is about the next generation coming through in teaching them about respect and the meaning of family," he said.

Meanwhile, in Nuku’alofa, the official aunching of the White Ribbon16 Days of Activism was held on November 23 at the Tanoa International Hotel, with a parade held on November 25.

Events included the Tonga National Centre for Women and Children’s Women’s Economic empowerment program and launching of the Women and Children's Crisis Center’s crisis helpline that will reach out to the outer islands and conclude on December 10 with a Choral Festival Tribute.

This is among the 16 Days of Activism calendar developed by a coordinating committee of the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Tonga Police, Health, Government of Australia, Civil Society Forum Tonga, Ma’a Fafine mo e Famili, Family Free Of Violence, Talitha Project & Peace Corps, Tonga Leitis Association, Tonga National Youth Congress, Tonga National Leadership Forum, Secretariat of the Pacific Community RRRT, UN Women and the WCCC.