For the first time ever, Pacific men came together to discuss and analyse the issue of violence against women and look at ways of working with women’s organizations to bring an end to the inequalities faced by women. “This is actually a milestone in terms of work for women’s human rights in the Pacific”, said Shamima Ali, Coordinator of Fiji Women's Crisic Centre and convenor of the training meeting. This training meeting was unique because it brought together 34 men from 6 countries in the Pacific Region, and these are men who have undergone various stages of training and who are working alongside women’s organizations in their own countries. “We have men from Fiji, Cook Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea; and all of them have been through an initial training with us. The men came from different backgrounds and are in positions where they can influence other men and they use the knowledge and skills in their line of work”, said Ali. Participants included police officers, village chiefs, church representatives, youth workers and community workers.
Published in: "First Ever Pacific Men's Training on Violence Against Women & Gender Equality - 34 Men, 6 Pacific Countries," Women’s UN Report Network, 31 March 2008.