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Fiji has marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls on 25 November.
The Fijian government said the day is a reminder that for too many women and girls, violence is a daily reality - not a headline or a statistic.
The day also kicks off 16 days of activism against gender-based violence - a worldwide UN campaign running from 25 November to 10 December.
The country's Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran told parliament this week violence against women and girls is not limited to the private sphere - "it permeates every dimension of society".
"Addressing this issue is therefore not only a woman's matter; it is a national priority - requiring engagement from every sector, every institution and every leader in our country.
"It manifests in various forms including physical, emotional, sexual and economic abuse as well as harmful practices such as trafficking."
She said the cost of violence against females is estimated to be equivalent to seven per cent of Fiji's gross domestic product (GDP), affecting families, the health system, productivity and the nation's development.
"The cost of violence is not only emotional - it is national."
She pointed out several statistics, including that around 60 percent of Fijian women have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime; girls as young as 13 remain the most vulnerable to sexual assault; and from 2020-2024, more than 4000 child sexual offences were reported - most involving young girls.
"Our response must be survivor-centred, and above all accessible to everyone - including women and girls with disabilities and those from diverse sexual orientations and gender identities."
In the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Western Pacific Region, more than a quarter of girls and women experience some form of intimate partner or sexual violence.
But WHO said in several Pacific island countries and areas, the prevalence of lifetime intimate partner violence is as high as one in two women.
WHO's western Pacific director, Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala, said governments and communities must use data to drive stronger policies, scale up prevention efforts, and invest in health system readiness, "so every girl is protected and woman is empowered".
WHO said while the numbers are grim, a survey on 'health system readiness to respond to interpersonal violence' pointed to an encouraging policy environment.
"Many countries are integrating strategies to prevent violence against women and girls into their national multisectoral plans, and acknowledging the key role that health systems must play in tackling this societal problem.
"However, the survey also highlights challenges in implementing these strategies."
It's not all bad news in the region though - Cook Islands Police have reported a decrease in the number of assault cases against women this year.
