Male staff of Westpac Bank of Tonga have committed to eliminating violence against women by wearing the white ribbon.

On the first day of Tonga's white ribbon campaign yesterday, advocates from the Women and Children Crisis Centre delivered over 1000 ribbons to private and public entities based in Nuku'alofa for their male staff to wear.

The White Ribbon is only for men. Only those who acknowledge that violence is preventable and that men play an important part in eliminating violence can wear the white ribbon.

The international White Ribbon campaign marks the 16 days of action against gender violence. Research has shown that domestic and sexual violence happens predominantly to women. Nine out of ten rape victims are women and 95% of perpetrators of domestic violence are men.

This year Tonga has witnessed a record year in terms of violent incidents.

"We have seen four women murdered in domestic violence situations this year and over 200 incidents reported domestic and sexual violence. It's time to take a stand. Violence is preventable and we cannot continue to live in a society where we accept it," said 'Usaia Hemaloto, WCCC Male Advocate.

At the head office of the Women and Children Crisis Centre groups of men have been making thousands of white ribbons.

All the men who wear the ribbons have taken a pledge that violence against women is a preventable crime and that they are committed to ending violence against women.

"Men hold a lot of the power in our society and their involvement in changing a culture that accepts violence is important. All those who are wearing the ribbon, such as the male staff of Westpac, are proud contributors to a happier and safer Kingdom," said 'Usaia.

General Manager of Westpac Mr Ashleigh Matheson gave his complete support to the cause. "Violence against anyone is not acceptable, and violence against women and children who are vulnerable is especially intolerable.

"You've got to ask, if there are 200 reported cases, how many more are out

there in which women and children are suffering in silence? If it's going to

stop, we have to have a no-tolerance attitude," said Matheson.

The male staff of Westpac took the pledge that violence is preventable, and that violence against women is a crime.

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Tui 'e he kakai tangata 'a e loufau hinehina ke ta'ofi 'a e fakamamahi.

Na'e fakaha 'e he kau ngaue tangata 'a e Pangike Tonga 'enau poupou ke ta'ofi 'a e fakamamahi 'aki 'enau tui 'a e loufau hinehina.

Na'e kamata'i 'e he kau 'ofisa tangata 'oku nau poupou ki he totonu 'a e kakai fefine 'a e teuteu'i 'o e loufau hinehina 'i he 'ofisi pe 'o e senita.

Ko e loufau hinehina ke tui pe 'e he kakai tangata. Ko kinautolu 'oku nau tui 'a e loufau hinehina ke faka'ilonga'i mo nau fakamo'oni'i 'oku hoko 'a e fakamamahi 'i Tonga pea 'oku 'ikai ke nau poupou ki hono fakamamahi'i 'o e kakai fefine.

Ko hono fakamanatu fakamamani lahi 'o e malanga'i 'o e Loufau Hinehina ke faka'ilonga'i 'a e 'aho 'e 16 'oku tuku mai ke fakahoko ai 'a hono pouopoua 'a e ngaahi totonu 'a e kakai fefine mo e tangata. Kuo fakaha mai mei ha ngaahi fekumi kuo ma'u koe lahi taha 'a e kakai 'oku nau tofanga 'i he palopalema 'o e fakamamahi 'i 'api mo e fakamamahi fakalielia, hufanga he fakatapu ko e kakai fefine. Ko e toko 9 he toko 10 kotoa pe 'o e kakai kuo uesia koe kakai fefine, pea ko e peseti 'e 95 'o e kakai 'oku nau fakahoko 'a e fakamamahi ko e kakai tangata.

'I he ta'uni, kuo 'osi fakamo'oni 'i Tonga ni 'a e ngaahi lekooti felave'i mo e fakamamahi, "Kuo hoko 'a e fakapo 'e 4 he ta'uni pe mo e keisi lahi hake he 200 kuo lipooti mai koe fakamamahi he famili mo e fakamamahi fakalielia. Kuo taimi ke tau tu'u ki 'olunga 'o fai ha ngaue. 'Oku lava pe ke ta'ofi 'a e fakamamahi pea he 'ikai ke kei hokohoko atu ai pe 'etau nofo he sosaieti 'oku tali ai 'a hono fakamamahi'i 'o e kakai fefine, ko e lea ia 'a e 'ofisa tangata 'oku ne taukapo'i 'a e totonu 'a e kakai fefine," 'Usaia Hemaloto.

'Oku tui 'a e loufau hinehina he 'aho 25 'o Novema. Ko e kakai tangata kotoa pe 'oku nau tui 'a e loufau hinehina kuo nau 'osi tukupa ke nau poupou ke ta'ofi 'a hono fakamamahi'i 'o e kakai fefine pea koe fakamamahi 'o e kakai fefine koe hia.

Issued by Women and Children Crisis Centre.