Violence against women and girls is nearly everywhere and Vanuatu is no exception. Vanuatu Women’s Center and the Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics have recently completed the second national survey on Violence Against Women and Girls interviewing 2,769 women aged 15 to 64. The data shows that violence persists in our communities, in our workplaces, in our homes, online and offline.

Currently, 7 in 10 women in Vanuatu are living with one or more types of violence or abuse (71%) perpetrated by a husband or partner. This violence includes physical, sexual, emotional and economic cruelties that harm the physical and mental well-being of our women and girls across their lifespan. 3 in 10 women are living with either physical or sexual violence now (30%).12% of women (more than 1 in 10) have been physically assaulted while pregnant, and many of these (41%) were beaten or kicked in the stomach.

2 in 10 women (19%) have experienced technology-facilitated violence in their lifetime, and more than 1 in 10 (14%) in the last 12 months. This includes using technology to control and monitor women, and sexual abuse. Some of this abuse occurs when husbands/partners are working overseas (30%), but most of it is occurring at home in Vanuatu (70%).

Three (3) out of 10 (32%) of all ever-partnered women in Vanuatu have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner during or just after a humanitarian disaster.

These facts can feel overwhelming. Too big to solve. Too complex to understand. Too hard to tackle.

To move past the feeling that this issue is insurmountable, the Vanuatu Women’s Center uses the “Problem Tree” framework. This model distinguishes between the visible symptoms of violence and the hidden forces that nourish them.

Like a tree, Violence Against Women and girls has roots – deep in our society, behaviors and cultural and gender norms. According to our research, the underlying cause of  violence against women and girls in Vanuatu is the power imbalance between men and women, and a lack of respect for a person’s human rights.

We take this knowledge of causes and have created awareness and outreach programmes to promote respect for human rights and gender equality. Last year VWC conducted 160 sessions with 12,088 community members. We work with male allies to talk about gender inequality. This is a way to stop the violence before it starts - not just cutting down a few pieces of the problem, but up-rooting it at the core.

Based on our research, we can also identify the things that make the violence more likely to happen, or contributing factors. Our research shows that in Vanuatu these include: drugs and alcohol( kava); increased access to  telecommunication (mobile, phones, internet) that is not regulated to promote women and girls’ safety and equality; isolation and migration; natural disasters and inadequate access to services and information, including quality, supportive healthcare.

So, we work with police, health and community leaders, training them and advocating together to reduce the risks of drug use, increase access to education for survivors and people at risk such as young children and women, and supporting coordination and response to disasters.We provide services to survivors, including through our hotline and mobile counselling unit in remote and isolated areas.

When we address both the root causes and the contributing factors, then we can begin to make change - step by step; community by community; with each person - in the choices they make and the opportunities they have to respect others.

Our research shows that this approach is working. Since the first prevalence survey, the current prevalence rate has dropped by 9%, which is at a faster rate than the global average and faster than most countries in the Asia-Pacific region with comparable data. This reduction reflects the dedicated investments in women-led interventions and increased commitments by police, health, child rights supporters, community leaders and local Committees against Violence Against Women (CAVAWS), among others. It shows that by understanding the problem, we have been able to take targeted actions to stop it.

Violence occurs through a complex interplay of social, economic and environmental factors that result in power imbalance that permits and condones violence against women and girls.

This means that the problem of violence against women and girls can only be solved when everyone contributes to addressing the root causes and the social ills and inequalities that stem from them. From the national government and international donors to community leaders and individual citizens, we must commit to dismantling the social and economic structures that permit violence to exist. Only by addressing the roots can we ensure a safe future for every woman and girl in Vanuatu.