Outcome FIJ_D_3.1

By 2027, more people, particularly those at risk of being left behind, benefit from more equitable access to resilient, and gender-responsive, quality basic services, food security/nutrition and social protection systems. [PCF Strategic Priority 2: People]

In 2025, communities and institutional actors in Fiji demonstrated measurable early shifts in attitudes, safeguarding practice, and coordination that strengthened the prevention environment for ending violence against women and girls. Although formal response services did not expand during the year, children, adolescents, caregivers, coaches, faith leaders, and community influencers showed increased willingness to discuss violence, question harmful norms, and recognise appropriate responses to disclosures. These shifts are significant because stigma, silence, and unequal power relations remain major barriers preventing women and girls from seeking support. Within faith-based and informal settlement communities, silence around gender inequality and violence was increasingly challenged. Across Suva and Nausori, 934 individuals (461 women and 473 men) engaged in structured dialogue examining how unequal power dynamics contribute to violence against women and HIV. A further 411 faith community members (213 women and 198 men) from four informal settlements in Suva City participated in collective reflection on accountability, decision-making, and the ethical use of power. As dialogue was led by trained community members within trusted faith and settlement settings, prevention conversations became more locally sustained and embedded within community practice. Community-level prevention mechanisms also became more structured and connected to support pathways. Trained Community Activists assumed ongoing facilitation roles across four target communities, reinforcing continuity in dialogue and local accountability. Completed community asset maps are now guiding Community Action Groups in identifying available services and clarifying referral options. These developments indicate that awareness-raising is increasingly linked to practical support navigation, strengthening community ownership of prevention and response pathways. Institutional safeguarding governance within rugby structures became clearer and more consistently applied. Through sport-based prevention engagement, 1,018 children and adolescents (622 girls and 396 boys) and 243 parents and caregivers (177 women and 66 men) demonstrated increased awareness of gender equality and non-violence within rugby club and school environments. At the same time, 60 active coaches (62 per cent women) applied clearer safeguarding standards in programme delivery, strengthening recognition of appropriate responses to disclosures. This institutional shift culminated in the formal adoption and public launch of a safeguarding policy by the Fiji Rugby Union, clarifying responsibilities and reinforcing organisational accountability in managing safeguarding concerns. As safeguarding standards became more defined and consistently referenced, institutional readiness for coordinated prevention improved, even though service delivery levels remained unchanged. Alignment between sport-based safeguarding practice and established gender-based violence service systems strengthened preparedness within rugby settings. While no new prevention or response services were introduced in 2025, clearer governance, defined roles, and improved referral understanding enhanced consistency within existing structures. Taken together, these developments contributed to more inclusive prevention environments for those most at risk of being left behind. Children and adolescents demonstrated greater confidence to identify harmful behaviours and articulate principles of equality. Faith leaders and community members addressed stigma and silence that often limit disclosure. By embedding prevention dialogue within trusted institutions such as churches and rugby clubs, gender-transformative messaging moved beyond one-off sessions and into ongoing community settings. These shifts contribute directly to global efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls under Sustainable Development Goal 5, particularly target 5.2. UN Women contributed through technical guidance, coordination, and financial support under the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls, funded by the European Union and the Australian Government. The outcome-level shifts observed in 2025 therefore reflect national leadership and institutional action, with sustained progress dependent on continued ownership beyond the reporting period.

By 2027, more people, particularly those at risk of being left behind, benefit from more equitable access to resilient, and gender-responsive, quality basic services, food security/nutrition and social protection systems. [PCF Strategic Priority 2: People]

In 2024, Fiji advanced a systemic and institutional transformation in the prevention of violence against women and girls (VAWG), embedding gender-based violence (GBV) prevention across national structures, service delivery systems, and societal norms. Supported through the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (PPEVAWG), these efforts reached 737 direct beneficiaries while reinforcing sustainable mechanisms for institutional change, multi-sectoral accountability, and whole-of-society engagement. The institutionalization of NAP-aligned policies, funding commitments, and cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms ensures that GBV response is no longer dependent on isolated interventions but is part of an interconnected, government-led system. The transformation of institutional safeguarding policies, the engagement of faith and traditional leaders, and the establishment of structured referral pathways reinforce a survivor-centred, gender-responsive, and culturally adaptive protection ecosystem. By ensuring that GBV prevention and response systems are institutionalized, multi-sectoral, and financially sustained, these efforts have fundamentally reshaped Fiji’s national approach to ending violence against women and girls. Institutionalized Prevention and National Ownership Fiji’s National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (NAP) marked a fundamental shift toward national ownership and institutional accountability, with the government committing FJD 7 million to ensure its long-term implementation. The establishment of the NAP Coordination Unit within the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Protection (MWCSP) positioned GBV prevention as a cross-sectoral priority, embedding response and prevention strategies across 13 key sectors. This structured, whole-of-society approach mobilized civil society, faith-based groups, and traditional institutions as key partners in prevention and service delivery. The institutionalization of multi-stakeholder coordination and resource allocation ensures that GBV prevention is no longer a standalone initiative but a fundamental part of national governance, policy, and social protection systems. Shifting Governance and Accountability in GBV Response A critical transformation in service delivery systems and safeguarding mechanisms occurred across multiple sectors, reinforcing institutional accountability and survivor-centred approaches: Sports Governance: 67 Safeguarding Focal Points (40 females, 19 males, 1 transwoman, 1 queer participant, 6 unspecified) across 35 Pacific sports organizations institutionalized gender-inclusive safeguarding policies. These reforms established referral pathways and direct service linkages between sports organizations, SAFENET, and the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, ensuring that gender-responsive safeguarding protocols are embedded within the sports industry. Legislative Reform and Law Enforcement: The Regional Working Group on Domestic Violence Legislation Implementation facilitated systemic shifts in how domestic violence laws are applied, aligning enforcement mechanisms with international human rights standards. This engagement strengthened cross-sectoral enforcement, survivor-centred judicial processes, and institutionalized accountability within legal and law enforcement structures. Faith-Based Leadership in Prevention: The SASA! Faith initiative, led by the House of Sarah, reshaped social norms at the community level by integrating GBV prevention into faith teachings and leadership structures. Reaching 670 community members (439 females, 233 males) in urban informal settlements, this initiative repositioned religious institutions as key drivers of attitudinal change while strengthening community-led safeguarding mechanisms through the establishment of Community Action Groups. Strengthening the Ecosystem for Survivor-Centred Services Fiji’s GBV prevention ecosystem has been restructured to ensure survivor-centred, accessible, and coordinated service delivery. Institutional actors, community organizations, and referral systems now operate within an integrated framework that prioritizes accessibility, quality, and sustainability of GBV response services. Institutionalized Referral Pathways: Service providers—including government ministries, sports organizations, faith-based groups, and traditional leaders—are now linked within a coordinated network, ensuring survivors receive timely support and protection. Multi-Sectoral Capacity Strengthening: Training and institutional capacity-building efforts have reinforced the ability of government agencies, frontline responders, and service providers to deliver survivor-centred interventions. Policy-Driven Service Delivery: By embedding NAP-aligned strategies into national policy frameworks, institutional mechanisms have been strengthened to sustain long-term GBV response services beyond short-term project cycles. Addressing Emerging Risks: GBV and Climate Change Intersectionality A forward-looking approach is being institutionalized to address climate-related vulnerabilities that exacerbate risks of violence against women and girls. As part of PPEVAWG Phase II, Fiji has initiated a groundbreaking study on the intersection of climate change and GBV, analyzing how displacement, economic pressures, resource scarcity, and service disruptions heighten risks for women and girls during environmental crises. This initiative ensures that gender-responsive resilience planning is embedded into Fiji’s national climate adaptation strategies, further reinforcing protection systems for those most vulnerable. Sustaining Systemic Change and Equitable Protection These achievements directly contribute to the Pacific UNSDCF People Pillar, ensuring that GBV prevention and response mechanisms are not only reactive but embedded within national governance, service delivery, and community structures. The institutionalization of NAP-aligned policies, funding commitments, and cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms ensures that GBV response is no longer dependent on isolated interventions but is part of an interconnected, government-led system. The transformation of institutional safeguarding policies, the engagement of faith and traditional leaders, and the establishment of structured referral pathways reinforce a survivor-centred, gender-responsive, and culturally adaptive protection ecosystem. By ensuring that GBV prevention and response systems are institutionalized, multi-sectoral, and financially sustained, these efforts have fundamentally reshaped Fiji’s national approach to ending violence against women and girls. UN Women Fiji MCO provided technical expertise and programmatic oversight through the Pacific Partnership to End Violence against Women and Girls, in partnership with MWCSP, House of Sarah, Fiji National Rugby League, and Oceania Football Confederation.

By 2027, more people, particularly those at risk of being left behind, benefit from more equitable access to resilient, and gender-responsive, quality basic services, food security/nutrition and social protection systems. [PCF Strategic Priority 2: People]

The outcome is still on track. Significant strides have been made in enhancing the accessibility and quality of services for women and girl survivors of GBV in the Pacific. The coordination of referral and response services for survivors of GBV has significantly improved through adherence to the Fiji National Service Delivery Protocol (SDP). The Ministry of Women with support from UN Women, facilitated localised referral pathways awareness with stakeholders from the central and western division. And currently the three out of the four divisions in Fiji (central, western, norther and eastern), have successfully implemented the SDP/GBV working group and created a localised referral pathway. Efforts to provide enhanced quality responses to survivors of violence in the Northern Division of Fiji have been particularly impactful. Twenty-five police officers underwent awareness and training sessions, resulting in improved practices within the police force. These officers, now equipped with a deeper understanding, demonstrate respect to survivors, take their cases seriously, and act swiftly to support women and girls navigating the complexities of the justice system in Fiji. The new Gender-Based Violence Counsellor Training Package for the Pacific has been agreed by the representatives from crisis centers across ten Pacific Island countries. This innovative move marks a departure from the previous manual utilized over the region for over three decades, developed by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. Following the agreement on the new GBV Counseling Manual, a two-week training session was conducted. Eighteen GBV counsellors from ten Pacific countries engaged in an intensive program aimed at refining their GBV counseling skills and knowledge. This effort is pivotal in ensuring that frontline responders are equipped with the latest methodologies and best practices in providing survivor-centered services. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and UN Women facilitated this training . Based on the progress made to date, the original strategy and ToC for this outcome is largely still applicable. However, given that a formulation of the second phase of the Pacific Partnerships is underway, it is likely that the strategy may be modified depending on the process. Concerning the National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls, the transition to a new government brings about the necessity to acquaint the incoming ministers and government officials with the intricacies of the NAP. This orientation is crucial to ensure their understanding and enthusiastic engagement with the ongoing initiatives.