The Pacific Community has unveiled a groundbreaking Regional Gender-Based Violence Counselling Framework, marking a significant achievement in the ongoing effort to combat violence against women and girls in the region. The launch was led by Shamima Ali, Coordinator of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, who has been a pivotal figure in feminist advocacy and has influenced the response to gender-based violence throughout the Pacific.
Ali emphasized that the framework is “Pacific-grown and contextualized,” resulting from six years of collaborative effort by various organizations and benefitting from over four decades of on-the-ground work championed by Pacific women’s groups. Rather than replacing existing national counselling manuals, the framework aims to enhance them by providing ethical standards and best practice guidelines that will harmonize services across the region.
She urged Pacific nations to adopt the framework and tailor it to strengthen their own Gender-Based Violence (GBV) counselling standards. The framework prioritizes survivor-centered, rights-based counselling practices, embedding principles such as confidentiality, non-judgmental support, and empowerment, ensuring that survivors can make informed choices rather than being directed by others.
Ali also cautioned against confusing the goals of survivor counselling with other forms of support, stressing that it must be informed by a thorough understanding of women’s human rights and the structural inequalities they face. Developed in partnership with UN Women and the New Zealand government, the initiative spans multiple volumes, offering guidance on ethical practices, safety planning, inclusive access, governance, and the well-being of counsellors.
Margot Szamier from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade recognized the framework as a “true regional good,” highlighting New Zealand’s commitment to aiding its implementation in Pacific countries. She articulated a vision in which every survivor of violence is treated with dignity and compassion, underscoring that sustainable progress can only be achieved through collective efforts that prioritize women’s voices.
Ali’s call to action included the need for Pacific governments to formally adopt the framework, integrate it into national standards, and, where feasible, legislate its ethical principles to ensure accountability and consistency in service delivery across the region. This collaborative approach is aimed at fostering a supportive environment for survivors and reinforcing the ongoing fight against gender-based violence in the Pacific.
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