Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu have the highest rates of violence against children among 40 low and middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with more than 80% of children experiencing violent discipline by their caregivers.
The Save the Children report states that child protection risks have surged in the Pacific over the last five years due to COVID-19, migration, climate change, and digital connectivity.
One female caregiver interviewed in Solomon Islands said “their bride price could help finance school fees for the younger ones or to start up money generating income to support families”.
while a child protection officer said “we’ve had cases of rape happening against girls because they had to travel distances to collect water. They experience drought so this is common practice that we send our girls out to fetch water, [making] them more vulnerable to violence”.
The Pacific Regional Child Protection Situational Analysis presents data from a literature review (comprising of academic and wider research, including reports from the UN and NGOs working in the Pacific), as well as primary research.
Save the Children New Zealand’s Jacqui Southey said progress has been made in child protection, but implementation is difficult due to under-resourcing, shortage of skilled social workers, and societal beliefs that reinforce harmful behaviors.
“children must play a pivotal role in shaping the solutions that bring about lasting change to realise their rights to a life free from harm, abuse and neglect.”
Save the Children calls on governments to prioritise ending violence against children.
This requires legislative reform, long-term financing, and community-based prevention and response programs, such as raising the age of marriage in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
The Child rights organisation also calls for long-term support for locally-led initiatives to eliminate violence against children from partner governments, civil society organisations, and donors.
Save the Children has operated in the Pacific for over 50 years, with programs in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga.
