A 'one-stop-shop' crisis service for victims of domestic abuse has been launched in Tonga, giving women and children easier access to police, medical and counselling services in the one building.
A police officer and a registered nurse will be stationed at the Women and Children Crisis Centre in Nuku'alofa.
The director of the centre, Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki, says they wanted to create a safe space where women can have access to free, non-judgemental counselling.
She says a registered nurse can undertake a free basic health check-up and a police officer will be there to take their statement in a safe space.
Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki says the goal is to reduce the impact of re-victimisation.
"We found that the victim had to go to so many places just to get someone to listen to what has happened to her and to do something about it, and to have to tell her story repeatedly over a span of two or three days, to a few different agencies, also takes a toll on her, so we wanted to reduce that."
Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki says it's hoped this will encourage more victims of violence to seek help.
