There is no place for violence in our region, says Pacific Islands Forum secretary-general Henry Puna, during the Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders meeting last Friday.
Mr Puna said gender-based violence affected everyone in the region.
“It affects our homes and places of employment and limits opportunities for the most vulnerable,” he said.
“However, global evidence demonstrates that gender-based violence, particularly violence against women and girls, is preventable within years. It is not impossible, and we have many years of work to draw on.
“Some of this work was shared at the Pacific Partnership on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Prevention in April this year.”
Mr Puna said the secretariat supported the Thursdays in Black global campaign to end gender-based violence.
“We stand in solidarity with survivors of violence as we continue to strive for a safe and secure Blue Pacific for all.”
