Transcript
Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki, of the Tonga Women and Children's Crisis Centre, says inequality between men and women is a root cause of the violence.
She also told delegates numerous other factors are contributing to a rise in violence rates.
"Emerging issues like ice and methamphetamine, the impact of drugs on exacerbating violence on women and girls, online abuse and climate change, extractive industries, mining. We will definitely be talking about that in more depth as a network."
On the 70th anniversary of World Human Rights Day, members of the network reflected on the progress made on human rights in the Pacific.
They recognised more work needs to be done to end violence against women in the region.
Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki says Vanuatu and Fiji are at the forefront of the fight and she says other countries can learn from their experiences and programmes and adopt their practices and principles.
"It takes a lot of work because sometimes womans can be isolated when they return back home. So some of the groups that are starting to strengthen themselves, alongside Tonga, is the Solomon Islands."
Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki says Kiribati has just opened up a centre and the Cook Islands and Samoa need support as does Papua New Guinea with a population of 8 million.
"A strong woman's movement on the ground that needs to be developed and supported so that policies, laws - all the issues that are close to our hearts throughout the Pacific is bigger progress on. We're not staggering behind."
Shamima Ali, of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, and the chair of the network says there has been an increase in the reporting of rape, domestic violence and child sexual abuse in the region.
"There is new data available, national surveys have been done, following the WHO model. So has it brought about any decrease in incidents? We haven't done comparative studies. We need to do that."
Ms Ali welcomed the courage that survivors have shown in standing up against any form of violence.
Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki wants to see more commitment from local governments towards the fight.
She hopes that in five to 10 years, crisis centres will not have to rely on aid from overseas.
"We would like government to assist in because this is a national issue and as a non-government organisation, we can't do it on our own. We welcome more government support and we've just coming towards the end of piloting our national helpline that can assist woman in the outer islands as well. These are areas where government can continue putting their support towards."
More than 60 participants from 11 Pacific countries are attending the meeting which ends on Friday.
This is Christine Rovoi. Fai'aksia!
