Regional Working Group (RWG) on the implementation of family protected/domestic violence legislation 

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Role: 

The Regional Working Group (RWG) is a vehicle for high-level government representatives from ministries with responsibility for implementing domestic violence legislation, to meet regularly to:

• Share information and good practices in relation to the implementation of domestic violence legislation.
• Discuss common regional strategies and initiatives to improve the implementation of domestic violence legislation.

In addition, the RWG also develops action plans to reflect regional priorities to meet the needs of its
members. Action plans may include the implementation of agreed regional strategies and initiatives.

The RWG was established in October 2018, as part of the “Regional Consultation on the Implementation of Domestic Violence Legislation:" From Law to Practice”. The regional consultation was convened by the then Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) of the Pacific Community (SPC).

The meeting brought together Pacific Island Countries (PIC) and States which had legislation to address family/domestic violence, with representation from Government Ministries / Departments with the mandate to implement their country/state’s family protection and domestic violence (FP/DV) legislation. It reflected on progress, key challenges faced, lessons learned, and resources needed in advancing the implementation of the domestic violence legislation in the Pacific region. RRRT was invited to act as Secretariat for the RWG.

Following its inaugural meeting in Fiji in May 2019, the RWG agreed to focus on three broad priority
areas to inform its work – counselling, advisory committees/councils, and data collection and monitoring
and evaluation. To facilitate the implementation of activities under each priority area, the RWG set up
subcommittees with clear roles and responsibilities.

Secretariat

The Human Rights and Social Development Division (HRSD) of the Pacific Community (SPC) is the Secretariat of the RWG. As the Secretariat, HRSD facilitates information sharing between members, coordinates RWG plans and activities, supports the RWG in convening its annual meetings, collects data to track countries’ progress over time with respect to the implementation of domestic violence legislation, financial management of the budget of the RWG, and leads fundraising efforts for the operation of the RWG and implementation of its plans.

In September 2020, RRRT merged with the Social Development Programme (SDP) to form the Human Rights and Social Development division. In 2022, the Pacific Women Lead Program (PWL) transitioned to HRSD, amplifying the gender portfolio of SPC.

3rd annual meeting
Outcomes document

1. Introduction

      A. Background

The 3rd Annual Meeting of the Regional Working Group on the Implementation of Family Protection/Domestic Violence (‘FP/DV’) Legislation (RWG) was convened by the Human Rights and Social Development (HRSD) Division of the Pacific Community (SPC). The meeting was held from 22 – 24 August 2022. Prior to the RWG meeting, a three-day Regional Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Services Symposium was convened - in partnership with the UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office - from 17 – 19 August 2022.

The 3rd Annual Meeting of the RWG was a hybrid meeting comprising in-person and virtual participation. It was attended by RWG members and alternate members from the national governments of Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu, as well as Pohnpei State Government from Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Members and alternate members from FSM, Nauru, the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) and Tuvalu joined remotely from their country hubs.

This Outcomes Document captures the key deliberations and outcomes of the 3rd Annual Meeting of the RWG. The annual meeting was chaired by Samoa (the Chair), with support from Nauru (Deputy Chair) and assisted by SPC’s HRSD as the RWG Secretariat (the Secretariat).

       B. Objectives

The objectives of the meeting were to:

• Share progress, key challenges faced, lessons learned and resources in advancing the implementation of the domestic violence legislation in the Pacific region.
   
• Agree on regional priority actions and opportunities for technical and/or financial support to RWG members.
   
• Agree on actions for the RWG to take on board to ensure that services provided for by FP/DV legislation are available and accessible for victims/survivors of violence against women.
   
• Agree on actions for the RWG to take forward to ensure that its work more effectively supports and complements or is incorporated into recent gender equality developments in the Pacific, including the work to revitalise the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration (PLGED), the work of the Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders and the inclusion of gender equality as an agenda item at the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting scheduled for 2023, and the work under the Pacific Women Lead Programme.

2. Summary of acknowledgements and key commitments

 The Regional Working Group: 

• Acknowledges Samoa and Nauru for their leadership role as Chair and Deputy Chair, respectively, of the RWG.
   
• Acknowledges the New Zealand Government for the support to the work of the RWG, including the direct funding support to the 3rd Annual Meeting of the RWG.
   
• Acknowledges the participation of RWG countries and states, including their presentations on the national and regional landscapes - particularly sharing their progress/achievements, key challenges faced, and lessons learned in advancing the implementation of the FP/DV legislation.
   
• Acknowledges the participation of Ms Louisa Wall, the New Zealand Ambassador for Gender Equality, and Christine Clarke, the Australian Ambassador for Women & Girls, and their contributions to the discussions.
   
• Acknowledges the convening of the EVAWG Services Symposium and notes the recommendations paper presented to the RWG capturing key discussions, recommendations, and opportunities to further strengthen services for survivors/victims of GBV/DV.
   
• Recognises the continued support and commitment of development partners, reaffirming the need for equitable support and collaboration for countries in the implementation of FP/DV legislation.
   
• Commits to progressing regional gender equality commitments, relating to GBV/DV¹.
   
• Requests the Secretariat to work closely with RWG members to provide technical and funding support for implementing national/sub-national legislation and support the implementation of recommendations.
   

3. Recommendations

The key agreed actions below outline the shared commitments by the RWG members and recognise the prioritisation of implementation, monitoring, and review within country contexts. This will be led by the respective sub-committees, with the support of the Secretariat.
 

       A. Thematic Area 1: Counselling

The Regional Working Group will:

1. Develop a regional counselling framework, which encapsulates principles and standards for providing GBV/DV counselling services. The framework aims to enhance consistent, timely and quality service provision for survivors/victims².
    
2. Update the Review of Counselling Services in the Pacific Final Report, including the mapping of counselling services in the region, and ensure the dissemination to member countries. In updating the Report, consideration can be given to expanding its content to address gaps in support for survivors and users of violence.

     B. Thematic Area 2: Advisory Committees/Councils

The Regional Working Group will:

1. Initiate the development of and/or strengthen national advisory committees/councils among RWG members by providing technical assistance, sharing good practices, information, and other forms of support.
    
2. Strengthen the multisectoral approach of National Advisory Committees/Councils by including representation of diverse groups³ to ensure effective support to the full range of GBV/DV survivors and users of violence.

      B. Thematic Area 3: Data Collection & Monitoring and Evaluation

The Regional Working Group will:

1. Strengthen national FP/DV advisory council and or multi-sectorial DV coordination mechanisms to enhance centralised case data system.
    
2. Mobilise financial, technical and partnership resourcing for national VAW prevalence study in 2023 as requested by member countries⁴.

Click here for the Outcomes Document.

1*.Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration and the Outcomes of the 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women.

2*.Consideration to look into users of violence.

3*.Including persons with disabilities, the elderly, those living in rural and outer islands, and marginalised and vulnerable groups, especially in times of emergencies.

4*. Federated States of Micronesia had shown interest during the 3rd Annual Meeting of the RWG. It is almost a decade since the first one for FSM, under the WHO Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence dedicated survey model, was released in 2014.

Read about the 2021 Regional Working Group on the Implementation of Family Protection and Domestic Violence Legislation (RWG) here.

4th annual meeting
Outcomes document

1. Introduction

      A. Background

The 4th Annual Meeting of the Regional Working Group on the Implementation of Family Protection/ Domestic Violence (FP/DV) Legislation (RWG) was convened by the Human Rights and Social Development (HRSD) Division of the Pacific Community (SPC), from July 17-21, 2023, at Heritage Park Hotel, Honiara, Solomon Islands. The convening commenced with two days of closed meetings for each sub-committee of the RWG, namely, the Advisory Committee/Councils Sub-committee, the Counselling Sub-committee and the Data Collection and Monitoring and Evaluation Sub-committee, from July 17-18. These were followed by the main RWG meeting from July 19-20 and a learning visit to two SAFENET members on July 21.

The meeting was attended in person by members and alternate members from the national governments of the Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Nauru, Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) and Tuvalu. The member and alternate member from Pohnpei State Government of FSM, joined remotely from their country hub1.

The meeting was chaired by Samoa (the Chair), with support from Nauru (the Deputy Chair) and assisted by SPC HRSD as the RWG Secretariat (the Secretariat).

       B. Objectives

The objectives of the meeting were to reach consensus on:

• Specific regional priority areas for implementation in the next phase of the RWG work plan.
   
• Action-oriented recommendations as key actions for the next annual year.
   
• Vote for the new Deputy Chair of the RWG.
   
• Actions for the RWG to take forward to ensure that its work more effectively supports, complements or is incorporated into international human rights treaties, recent gender equality developments in the Pacific.

2. Summary of meeting key issues and agreements

The Regional Working Group:

• Acknowledges Samoa and Nauru for their leadership role as Chair and Deputy Chair, respectively, of the RWG.
   
• Notes and thanks Samoa for their leadership as Chair of the RWG, congratulates Nauru as the new Chair and Solomon Islands as the Deputy Chair, respectively.
   
• Acknowledges the generous support of RWG member governments to the work of the RWG, and the New Zealand Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) for the direct funding of the 4th Annual Meeting of the RWG.
   
• Acknowledges the participation of RWG countries and states, including their presentations, discussions, and the key recommendations from the sub-committee meetings.
   
• Acknowledges the presentation from Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP), that contributed immensely to ongoing discussions and provided invaluable insights into strengthening the implementation of FP/DV legislation.
   
• Recognises the continued support and commitment of development partners and CROP agencies and reaffirms the need for equitable support and collaboration for countries in the implementation of FP/DV legislation.
   
• Commits to accelerate coordination and strengthen multi-sectoral partnership between government, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, development partners, and the private sector to ensure inclusivity in the design, implementation and review of legislation, prevention, response, and recovery policies, plans and programmes.
   
• Commits to progressing regional gender equality commitments, relating to domestic violence.
   
• Requests the Secretariat to work closely with RWG members to provide technical and funding support for implementing and/or review of national/sub-national legislation and support the implementation of recommendations.
   
• Acknowledges and welcomes the work of the Technical Taskforce5 to develop the Regional GBV/VAWG Counselling Framework, taking into account new and emerging issues, that will impact GBV/VAWG counselling service provision.

The Regional Working Group agrees to:

• Refine and clarify a clear pathway of its priority focus, to address issues of implementation of DV/FP legislation.
   
• Redefine the meaning of domestic/ family violence within the context of the RWG mandate and in relation to gender-based violence outside the family unit.
   
• Amend the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the RWG. Membership is to be inclusive of Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) Secretariat as a permanent observer. Any other observers to he meetings of the RWG will be by invitation only, and with the consensus of the RWG. The amended ToR will be circulated by the Secretariat to members for endorsement, within one month.
   
• Revisit and review the scope and appropriateness of the three priorities areas in relation to the mandate of RWG. Assess if the priorities are tangible, taking into account new and emerging issues, fit for purpose and contextualised.

The Secretariat will:

• Assist to provide/coordinate technical and funding support to scope for/establish offices for family violence prevention within member governments, as/when requested by members.
   
• Assist member countries/states by mobilising and coordinating funding support for the implementation of FP/DV legislation including requirements for data collection, monitoring and evaluation. This is subject to, but not limited to developing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework. This includes functional systems of data collection, storage, analysis and reporting of both survivors/victims and perpetrators of violence, service providers, etc. of all family protection/domestic legislation.
   
• Coordinate opportunities for professional development for member countries/states especially its institutions, that deal with family violence and support survivors/victims and perpetrators.
   
• Assist member countries/states to provide/coordinate opportunities to strengthen/establish safe and accessible shelters to survivors/victims of family violence.
   
• Assist member countries/states to report on the needs, issues, and challenges on implementation of FP/DV legislation within their respective countries/states and support the Advisory Committee/Councils Sub-committee to draft an action plan based on those to be tabled in the 5th Annual meeting of the RWG.
   
• Develop a concept (including a communications and visibility component) for the next phase of the RWG project, to ensure resourcing for its commitments.

3. Commitments 

The following key agreements share the commitments by the RWG members, over the next one-year period, and recognise that its implementation, monitoring, and review will be prioritised within country contexts. This will be led by the respective sub-committees, with the support of the Secretariat.

A. Priority area 1: Counselling

The Regional Working Group will:

• Socialise the draft Gender-Based Violence Regional Counselling Framework with member countries utilising planned key national events. RWG members will actively support this process.
   
• Endorse the draft Gender-Based Violence Regional Counselling Framework by the 5th Annual Meeting of the RWG.
   
• Convene its next Counselling Sub-committee meeting in Tuvalu and affirm the Tuvalu Government’s role as the Chair of the Counselling Sub-committee.

B. Priority area 2: Advisory Committees/Councils

The Regional Working Group will:

• Strengthen multisectoral coordination with FP/DV stakeholders to ensure consistent, timely and quality holistic service provision for survivors/victims. Additionally, it commits to strengthening coordination with development partners to strengthen the RWG’s assistance to legal and justice services for survivors/victims.
   
• Convene a plenary meeting for member countries/states, in 2023, with the intention of obtaining reports on their respective status in relation to the mandate of the Advisory Committee/Councils sub-committee. The RWG also affirms the FSM National Government as the Chair of the Advisory Committee/Councils Sub-committee. The sub-committee will conduct its next meeting in FSM in 2024.
   
• Commence scoping on the development of an action plan for the RWG on the implementation of FP/DV legislation. Scoping will capture the needs and challenges for RWG members on the implementation of their legislation and will inform the plan. The plan will set out the framework to assist, guide and complement the various existing governance structures, national actions and coordination in-country.
   
• Priority Area 3: Data Collection & Monitoring and Evaluation

The Regional Working Group will:

• Conduct a situational analysis and draft a report to inform the development of a regional framework on data collection and monitoring and evaluation for FP/DV legislation.
   
• Support the drafting of a ToR together with development partners to conduct prevalence studies on Violence Against Women in Pacific Island Countries, under the WHO Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence Against Women framework.
   
• Support the ongoing professional development of government officials responsible for data collection and monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of FP/DV legislation.