5 Sep 2016

Pacific urged to build on improvements to protecting women

8:34 am on 5 September 2016

Pacific governments are being urged to redouble efforts to protect women and build on improvements in the struggle to end gender-based violence.

Front-line workers from 13 countries gathered in Fiji last month, and the outcomes will be presented to Pacific Islands Forum leaders when they meet this week in Federated States of Micronesia.

The outcomes include a call for more commitment and support.

Fiji Women's Crisis Centre Co-ordinator, Shamima Ali.

Fiji Women's Crisis Centre Co-ordinator, Shamima Ali. Photo: supplied

The co-ordinator of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, Shamima Ali, says she hopes this will build on improvements being made to legislation and policing practices in the region.

"We have seen a lot more political leaders, religious leaders, speaking out against violence against women and having programs having zero tolerance policies," she said.

"So these are the good things that are happening. But the fact remains that women are still dying at the hands of their partners, husbands, they are still getting raped at the hands of men."