It takes a village to raise a child: UN rings alarm over crisis in the Pacific

By Christine Rovoi, PMN

The United Nations warns that Pacific children face alarmingly high rates of violence and abuse, which are among the highest in the world.

The UN says these issues stem from inadequate government-funded services, persistent religious and cultural barriers, and rising drug use.

As representatives from 17 countries gather in Fiji with civil society groups and stakeholders for the inaugural Pacific Child Wellbeing Summit, the urgency of the situation becomes evident.

Participants are told that over half the Pacific's population is under the age of 24, yet a lack of accurate and comprehensive data hinders our understanding of the problem's magnitude.

At the summit, the UN children's agency, UNICEF, emphasises the gravity of the crisis.

"The levels of violence, abuse, and neglect of Pacific children are among the highest in the world. The statistics we have been discussing are alarming," says Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF Pacific's representative.

"Despite the beauty and richness of the Pacific region, our girls and boys face significant challenges that threaten their wellbeing," he adds, calling for increased regional collaboration and resource-sharing to strengthen child protection systems.

"It is not only the right thing to do but also the smart thing to do. The impact of child protection on a country's economic and social development is significant."

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat says the future of the Blue Pacific continent is our children, and PIF has been clear that the region's future cannot be left to chance.

Acting PIF Secretary-General Desna Solofa from Sāmoa says children are central to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

"We must invest in their future by providing them with the opportunities, support, and safe environment they need so they reach their full potential," she says.

"It is critical that existing mechanisms are strengthened to protect our children and their well-being. For our member countries, experts, and stakeholders to forge a way forward to guarantee a safe, inclusive, equal and enabling environment for our children."

With the theme 'It takes a village to raise a child' based on 'strong families and communities,' the summit examines the strengths, challenges, and opportunities within the Pacific to protect all children from abuse.

Tonga's Minister of Internal Affairs, Sinaitakala Tu'itah, says investing in our youngest citizens is central to achieving the region's 2050 vision.

"Creating an ambient and safe environment for the Pacific children to flourish is essential. This requires leadership, a united workforce, cultural and faith-based support, economic investment, and inclusive social protection," she says.

UNICEF's report, When Numbers Demand Action, reveals that one in three women in the Pacific region (six million) has faced contact sexual violence before turning 18.

The summit focuses on Papua New Guinea, home to 12 million people. Jerry Wap, acting director of the PNG National Office for Youth and Family Services, echoes the UN's concerns about the government's neglect of support services and law enforcement.

"There has been a lot of violence against women, children, and young girls in PNG. It's unacceptable and goes against our culture and traditions," he tells Benar News.

"PNG is a big country, but we only have 5000 police officers; it's not enough to protect our people. We also have tribal wars and increasing alcohol and drug abuse," he says, adding that some provinces have just one protection officer.

Wap says there is a need for reliable statistics, urging collaboration between government departments, churches, and NGOs to create a comprehensive understanding of the situation.

The UN Human Rights Council's recent four-yearly review of Fiji uncovers a series of issues, highlighting Fiji's failure to fully implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child while identifying a significant "prevalence" of child abuse and neglect.

The report recommends taking decisive actions to end child marriage, prostitution, and child labour.

Senior economist Simon Halvey from Cornerstone presents the financial implications of child violence in Fiji.

According to a Cornerstone report for UNICEF, violence against children in Fiji costs an estimated NZ$350 million annually (F$459.8m), equivalent to 4.2 per cent of the country's GDP.

Halvey argues that investing in prevention is a societal obligation and a financially sound strategy.

Kiribati's Minister for Women, Ruth Cross Kwansing, expresses her realisation of the economic merits of investing in child welfare during Halvey's presentation.

"In Kiribati, we believe that 'our children are our hearts.' When fathers start to comprehend the impact of abuse, they can differentiate between tough love and discipline."

The Pacific Council of Churches also addresses shortcomings in providing safe spaces for children.

"The power, trust, and responsibility of faith communities get abused by some leaders. There have been instances where we have failed, and in fact, we have been responsible," Reverend James Bhagwan, the council general secretary, says.

He recognises the Convention on the Rights of the Child as vital but says that Western rights-based legal frameworks can often feel overwhelming in the Pacific.

"A holistic approach means we use the head, the heart, and the hands; using human rights (the head), spiritual faith (the heart), and traditional culture, indigenous knowledge, and wisdom (the hands)."

Talei Cama, a Pacific Child Protection Specialist, stresses the importance of engaging in more talanoa (dialogue) about practical steps to support children while acknowledging the good work already being done.

"We have to build and strengthen our Pacific families, understanding Pacific challenges and how we work together. This includes investment. Investment is key. It's not just the right thing to do; it's the economically wise thing to do," she says.

A report is expected to be released on recommendations for implementation at both regional and national levels.

The 17 nations at the summit include Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Sāmoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Save the Children's Pacific Regional Child Protection Situation Analysis released in May 2024 shows child protection risks have increased in the region over the past five years due to Covid-19, increased migration, climate change, and digital connectivity.

The report states that persistent social norms and power dynamics that accept high levels of violence within homes, schools and communities threaten children's rights to live free from harm, abuse and neglect across the region.

Almost 200 children and adolescents, 300 caregivers, and 110 child protection staff members across the five countries participated in the research, which consisted of group discussions, surveys, child-led research, and a comprehensive literature review.

Children shared their perceptions of violence in their homes, schools, community, and online, revealing that violence is an all-too-common experience for the majority of children in the five Pacific countries studied - Fiji, PNG, the Solomons, Tonga, and Vanuatu - and that this violence has increased in the past five years and even before the Covid pandemic.

-This article was first pubished by PMN.