Police officers in the region are trying to eliminate cultural and religious attitudes that have created barriers to justice for crimes against women.
A training program involving police officers from ten Pacific countries is currently underway in Fiji.
The program has focussed on issues such as Feminist Legal Theory, Human Rights Conventions and different laws which deal with violence against women, girls and children across the region.
Inspector Detective Maryline George from the Vanuatu Police force says it is very challenging combating those attitudes in a male-dominated force.
The police women are few and they cannot get access to training and promotion so it's still very challenging in the police force today.
Inspector Detective Maryline George.