A report on gender based violence in Tonga has found that three out of every four women there experiences male violence during her life.
The foreword was written by the Prime Minister Lord Tuivakano, who also spoke at the launch ceremony. He said the disturbing statistics show how women have been the focus of rejection and suppression.
Key findings reveal
- 77 percent of Tongan women and girls are affected by violence perpetrated by their fathers or teachers and 33 percent of married women are victims of physical violence.
- 17 percent of married women are victims of sexual violence and 24 percent of married women are emotionally abused.
- Perpetrators of violence are just as likely to be well respected and educated Tongan men.
The Prime Minister said the study is a first step calling for serious and urgent action and the immediate response must be to accept that violence against women is a crime.
Legislation to combat violence against women has been drafted and will soon go to parliament.
Tonga’s Catholic Bishop, Paini Mafi, recently spoke about gender based violence.
“As leaders of our churches we ought to be at the forefront of current issues such as violence against women and children, which are affecting not only the members of our churches but also our country,” he said.
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