A workshop for Town and District Officers to lead the drive to eliminate violence against women, was launched this morning, 25 November, White Ribbon Day, by Lord Vaea at the Davina House, Nuku'alofa.

Marking the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the event was attended by foreign diplomats, government officials and representatives of non government organizations. Lord Vaea called for Tongan men to lead the way in the fight to eliminate violence against women.

Lord Vaea, the Minister for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is also responsible for Women Affairs.

He said that during the coming 16 days the campaign would focus in the villages. 

The disturbing statistics on how Tongan men treat their women was highlighted in the first National Study on Domestic Violence that was compiled by a Tongan Women NGO, Ma'a Fafine mo e Famili in 2009.

The report found that 45 per cent of Tongan women reported having ever experienced at least one of the three types of violence: physical, sexual, and emotional violence during their lifetime.

It also reported that 33 percent of ever-married or partnered women were victims of physical violence in their lifetime and in two thirds of these, the violence was fairly significant - it included being punched, hit, dragged, beaten-up, choked, burnt or having a weapon against them.

The report states that 91 percent of women had experienced, at least once in their lifetime, controlling behaviour of the husband.

Lord Vaea said that since 2009 there had been a lot of work toward solving the problem of violence against women, and at the moment government and NGOs were working together to solve the problem. He said that the latest major move was the recent enactment of Tonga’s Family Protection Bill 2013.