Tonga's Women and Children's Crisis Centre says it was inundated with clients seeking help because domestic violence and child abuse during its first year of operation.
Ofa ki-levuka Guttenbeil Likiliki says she was surprised they saw 354 clients last year, despite other organisations offering similar help.
She says it shows that more awareness is still needed and the legislation could be improved to better tackle this growing problem.
"We are seeing increases, particularly with physical and sexual abuse, and that is because we don't have a child protection act in Tonga which limits the access that service providers have to the child."
Ofa ki-levuka Guttenbeil Likiliki, the director of Tonga's Women and Children's Crisis Centre.
