The United Nations says if rates of violence against women in the Pacific don't improve, development in the region will be hampered.
Pamphlets for the Rakiraki Women's crisis centre Photo: RNZI/ Sally Round
The UN's '16 days of Activism against Gender-based Violence' campaign is currently in full-swing, with events taking place throughout the Pacific.
The UN Women's Deputy Representative for Fiji, Nicolas Burniat says the issue affects the majority of women, with two out of three women in the region experiencing violence.
"This is the largest single violation of human rights in the world, it's also the crime that's the least prosecuted and punished. And it's a real threat to peace and development. But if you look at the Pacific the amounts are double."
He says that while the issue of violence against women in the Pacific has gained increased visibility in recent years, it is still widespread.
