here - Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development

Apr - Jun 2015
WOMEN AND CHILDREN CRISIS CENTRE
MO’UI KE FIEFIA NEWSLETTER
Creating a Kingdom that is Violence free
Email: wccrisiscentre@gmail.com, Website: www.tongawccc.org, Phone: 22 240, Fax: 22 290
“This newsletter is funded by Australian Aid”
The dream to complete the One Stop
Crisis Support Services (CSS) Team
became a reality for the WCCC when
the last vacant position was filled in
April.
The One Stop CSS Team is made up of
three Counsellor Advocates, a Police
Officer, a Legal Advocate , three Safe
House Carers and with the recent recruitments of the Nurse Advocate, the
team is finally complete.
The initiative of the One Stop Crisis
Support Services is the first of its kinds
in the Pacific. A close collaboration
between the WCCC Director and the
past Tonga police Commissioner,
Grant O Fee, the One Stop CSS Team
is aimed at providing core response
support services to victims and survivors of any forms of violence against
women and children.
The centre has anecdotal evidence of
barriers in processes and procedures
that have led to delays in women and
children seeking and accessing justice.
With the completion of the One Stop
Crisis Support Service, the Centre
hopes to see an increase in women
and children who will access these
services. Whether it is only counselling, seeking police support, legal assistance or a general health check-up.
The Centre hopes to make sure that
it is available and accessible so that no
woman will go back feeling helpless.
1
1.
Sela Sausini Tu’ipulotu
Counsellor Advocate.
2.
‘Ofa Vea
Counsellor Advocate.
3.
Malia Forget Tu’itupou
Counsellor Advocate.
4.
Vaiola Kula
Nurse Advocate.
5.
Lesley Young
Nurse Counsellor.
6.
Pauline Vea Tu’itupou
Legal Advocate.
7.
Paea Takau
Police officer.
The One Stop CSS Team incorporates
human rights and gender equality
principles in their daily practice with
the aim of influencing colleagues,
relatives and friends to change negative mindsets and to stand together
2
3
4
5
6
7
in their communication that violence
and abuse is a crime, therefore it
should not be tolerated under any
circumstances.
Mo’ui Ke Fiefia
NGO petition supports
CEDAW ratification
From the Director
When a person is discriminated against only because she is
female, is this wrong? If you
tell a young girl to put up
with sexual jokes made at her
in the workplace from male
colleagues because its part of
the normal male biology and
culture, or when police revictimize women and girls
who have been raped and ask
them “well, what were you
doing there? or “what were
you wearing? or even worse
“what did you do to provoke
it? Is this wrong? Or when
daughters have been left
landless or homeless because
the land laws dictate that
only men can register and
own land, or when a medical
doctor tells a wife who has
been violently sexually violated by her husband, “do you
know he has the right to do
anything he wants to do because he is your husband?” is
this wrong? What about when
a young teenage girl who has
been raped is forced to marry
the perpetrator to save the
family from shame and gossip? or when a husband forces
his wife to sleep with several
different men while he pleasures himself by being a peeping Tom? Is this wrong? Or
when the national sports
budget over the last decade is
predominately funding male
sports or the fact that in 139
years of parliament in Tonga
we have only ever had 4
women elected into parliament and 3 women appointed
to ministerial portfolios, is
this okay? Or to tell a woman
that she can’t play netball
because she’s married or that
a woman can’t use contraception or have access to tubal
ligation until she gets her
husband’s approval” Is this
okay? CEDAW is not a magical
solution to the plethora of
issues—but it’s a tool that can
definitely help our governcontinue ...
Director of Women and Children Crisis Centre,
‘Ofa Guttenbeil Likiliki presented the petition to one of the MPs,
Semisi Sika who also signed the petition.
A petition has been presented to the
Tonga parliament backing the government's efforts to ratify the United
Nation's Convention to Eliminate All
Forms of Discrimination Against
Women, or CEDAW.
Director of Women's and Children's
Crisis Centre, ‘Ofa Guttenbeil Likiliki
presented the petition to the deputy
clerk of the House Dr. Sione Vikilani.
The petition was signed by two MPs,
Hon. Fe’ao Vakata the Minister of
Internal Affairs and Semisi Sika, and
backed by 13 NGOs; Civil Society Fo-
ment and future governments
take positive steps in ensuring that structural power relations in our society and material resources are addressed by taking positive or
affirmative action to ensure
that policies and programs
benefit BOTH women and
men and girls and boys and
not just one gender.
‘Ofa atu, ‘Ofakilevuka.
rum of Tonga (CSFT), Friendly Island
Teachers Association (FITA), Women
and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC),
Tonga National Centre for Women
and Children (TNCWC), Girl Guides of
Tonga, Talitha Project, Tongan National Women’s Congress, Public Services
Association (PSA), Naunau ‘o e
‘Alamaite Association (NATA) and Tonga Paralympics Committee. Three independent women also signed the
petition; Rev. ‘Ungatea Fonua Kata,
‘Ana Bing Fonua and Sipola Halafihi.
Ms Guttenbeil Likiliki says their support is based on their knowledge of
CEDAW and how it can help improve
the lives of women and girls in Tonga.
She says the petition letter, addressed
to the speaker Lord Tu'ivakano, states
CEDAW will not undermine Tongan
attitudes to abortion and same sex
marriage.
Ms Guttenbeil Likiliki says these two
issues are not spelled out in CEDAW
nor are they hidden within some other clauses of the convention as has
been claimed by its opponents.
Lobbying and Advocating for CEDAW
The Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) is one of the leading organisations lobbying and advocating
for the ratification of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of
Discrimination
Against
Women
(CEDAW).
There has been confusion and misunderstanding by many people about
the Convention after the Minister of
Internal Affairs declared that the government was ready to ratify CEDAW.
The Director of Women and Children
Crisis Centre ‘Ofa Guttenbeil Likiliki
was invited to speak to a number of
organisations about CEDAW including
the Fund Management Building Staff,
Sia’atoutai Theological College and
the Tongan Journalists.
She clarified each article. The five
articles on which the government
placed reservations were articles two,
ten, twelve, fourteen and sixteen.
Clearly, the concerns were on same
sex marriage, abortion and women’s
land ownership. But these issues are
not mentioned in the CEDAW articles.
The General Manager of the Fund
Management Staff said, “This is the
right definition and clarification about
CEDAW, I was misinformed before by
an anonymous source but I am grateful that you’re here and give us the
facts and the truth about this beautiful convention.”
One of the questions raised by a student of Sia’atoutai Theological College was “My concern is, if we ratify
CEDAW, we will allow same sex marriage and abortion.” ‘Ofa Likiliki clarified, that there is no reference to
same sex marriage or abortion in any
of the articles. The words that some
people interpreted as abortion is
‘family planning’ which does not include abortion.
A female journalist also shared, “I am
a privileged woman, I am the only
daughter, my brothers treat me well
using our ‘fahu system’, I am the one
who stays in our parents’ house on
their land which legally should be
held by my eldest brother. Us Tongan
women still have these privileges so
why push for CEDAW?” WCCC Director responded in a very emotional
way from her personal view, “Myself,
I am a privileged woman too, I am
well educated, and I‘ve been sent to
top schools in New Zealand and to
university, I am fully employed and
get paid to put food on the table for
my family, I am able to pay my kids
school fees and send them to school, I
have dual citizenship, I can stop everything I do here tomorrow and take
my whole family to New Zealand
where there are more opportunities
for me and my children, but I can’t,
why? … I can’t turn my back on women and children who stop by at the
Crisis Centre or at my house, who are
victims of domestic violence and
young girls who have been sexually
abused in terrible ways. I can’t (in
tears), I can’t sleep at night and nor
can my staff. We do what we can to
help these women and children? That
is why we are pushing for CEDAW, it is
a tool, a mechanism, for all women
that helps women and girls who are
discriminated against, in any way,
just because they are women.”
The WCCC Community Educator said,
“It is so unfortunate that a lot of people do not know and understand
CEDAW. We push for it, for we know
and understand it will be a useful tool
in promoting gender equality and
stopping all forms of discrimination
against women in Tonga. The Centre
will continue to conduct awareness
programs for the public on the Convention. When CEDAW is presented
to the public, then each individual will
Very top: Session with Sia’atoutai
Theological College, the Journalist
from media organisations and the
Fund Management staff.
make their own decision whether to
accept or reject it. The WCCC wants
to correct the myths that can mislead
people.”
WCCC is still lobbying and advocating
for this UN Convention to be ratified
in any way they can: through personal
dialogue, social media, radio programs, talks in schools and communities.
BBBS New Zealand Coordinator, Dave Marshall with WCCC staff.
The Women and Children Crisis Centre is hosting its newest program the
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF TONGA (BBBST) also known the “Ta’okete
mo e Tehina ‘o Tonga”. BBBST program offers mentoring services for
young people who need the guidance
and influence of a mature, responsible and trustworthy adult.
Its mission is to help young people
who are at risk to achieve their full
potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships, with measurable outcomes.
In 2012 the Women and Children
Crisis Centre together with the Tonga
Police Department, held conflict resolution talks and peace building sessions with principals of various
schools in Tonga to address key issues regarding the growing incidence
of violence between youths in Tonga.
One important finding from these
talks was that the majority of students taking part in this were from
broken families. It was based upon
this finding that the peace consulta-
tions chose the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program to help offer a system of
adult guidance and assistance to children who do not have that experience at home.
This one-to-one mentoring between a
Big Brother or Big Sister (Mentor) and
a Little Brother or Little Sister
(Mentee) will be one hour a week
during the academic year. An hour of
mentoring could be doing any activities that is appropriate and the child
is interested in.
The match between adult and child is
the most important part of the intervention. This pairing can lead to a
caring and supportive relationship
that will help the child.
The aim is that, while sharing fun
activities, the Big Brother or Big Sister
will impart life lessons and skills that
would help the child to make better
decisions and better choices in life
. Each mentor relationship will be
monitored by the WCCC MentorCoordinator, Soana Pongi. Ms Pongi,
who has been a high school teacher
for 11 years, says “I am looking forward to this opportunity to work very
closely with these students on a personal level. Through this program I
will be able to facilitate friendships
between at-risk young students and
an older friend who has a willing heart
to give the best of themselves to others”. Her goal for this year is to make
a difference in the lives of children.
Early this year BBBS New Zealand Coordinator, Dave Marshall, conducted a
one week training for all WCCC staff
on requirements and procedures for
the mentoring program. WCCC are
happy to take this new program on
board.
BBBS was established in 1904 by a
New York court clerk named Ernest
Coulter. Coulter discovered that the
problems faced by troubled young
people who came through the court
were caused by lack of adult support
and guidance, he realized the need for
these young people to be mentored
by caring and compassionate adults.
Today there are about 12 countries
utilizing this Mentoring Program.
Youth leaders workshop develops tips for
respectful and healthy relationships
The Women and Children Crisis
Centre conducted a two days’ workshop on “Respectful and Healthy
Relationships,” with faith based and
youth stakeholders on Thursday
28th and Friday 29th May 2015 at
Tungi Colonnade Conference Room.
Youth leaders had the opportunity
to share their experiences and ideas
of healthy relationships. This two
day workshop enabled participants
to develop ten tips of how to have a
respectful and healthy relationship.
They came up with:
 Mutual respect
 Trust
 Honesty
 Support
 Equality
 Good communication
 Separate identities
 Spirituality
 Selfless
 Life goes on
“In order to have a respectful and
healthy relationship, I have to respect my partner, build the trust
between us and treat him/her as
my equal”, shared Sesilia Fahiua.
Part of the discussion on the two
day workshop was looking at ways
of how to get the message out to
young people in the community.
One of the participants, Polikalepo
Kefu willingly volunteered to create a facebook page. This will continue the dialogue and enable
young people to share their ideas
and experiences and raise any issues of concern in open, honest
and
constructive
discussion.
“Nowadays, social media is very
popular with the young generation
and this is the best way we can use
to address this important issue”,
said Poli Kefu.
“This is an eye opener for me especially on gender and human rights.
This is the first time for me to attend
such a workshop as this and become
aware of the centre’s work. I count
it as a blessing, today I welcome
WCCC to my life”, shared ‘Ofeina
from the Mo’ui Fo’ou ‘Ia Kalaisi
youth.
WCCC’s Team Leader, Lesila Lokotui
To’ia was happy to say that the
workshop was a success. “It
equipped the participants with
good to know that we will be working with them in future, carrying out
awareness programs to educate and
help our young people. They will
also assist in directing youth to
appropriate places to get support
when needed.”
The first day of the workshop focused on gender, human rights, domestic violence and child abuse. The
second day focused on sexual harassment, rape, pornography and
finished with respectful and healthy
relationships.
WCCC Director, ‘Ofa Guttenbeil Likiliki, Staff Team Leader,
Lesila Lokotui To’ia and youth leaders who participated in the two
days’ workshop at Tungi Colonnade Conference Room.
knowledge and understanding on
how to deal with these issues. As
they are youth leaders in their communities they have a significant
role to play in our youngsters’
lives, therefore this was an important workshop for them. I
hope that they will be good role
models and have positive impacts
on our young ones’ lives. It is also
The workshop was facilitated by the
WCCC’s
Director,
‘Ofakilevuka
Guttenbeil Likiliki and Staff Team
Leader, Lesila Lokotui To’ia.
This workshop was made possible
through the financial assistance of
UN Women Pacific Regional Ending
Violence Against Women Facility
Fund.
From Left to Right: HE. Brett Aldam (Australia High Commissioner to Tonga), WCCC Director ‘Ofa Guttenbeil
Likiliki, Hon. Julie Bishop (Australia Minister for Foreign Affairs), Hon. Fe’ao Vakata (Tonga Minister for Internal
Affairs), Lepolo Taunisila (WCCC Trustee) and Dana Stephenson (WCCC Trustee) at WCCC office.
Australia’s first female Foreign Affairs
Minister included the Women and
Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) on her
agenda during her recent visit to Tonga. The one and a half day visit was to
highlight Australia’s close economic
and security relationship with Tonga.
The Hon. Julie Bishop visited WCCC
with Tonga’s Minister of Internal
Affairs the Hon. Fe’ao Vakata and the
Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, HE Brett Aldam. She congratulated
WCCC and acknowledged the work
carried out by the Centre. She also
announced funding of $450,000 to
the centre in 2014-16 as part of the
Australian aid program’s longstanding support to women in Tonga.
“The Australian Aid Program has been
supportive of the women of Tonga
and we congratulate you particularly
on the focus on preventing violence.
We will continue to ensure that women in Tonga are safe in their home,
safe in their community and feel secure as they go about in their daily
lives”, Bishop said.
Bishop’s short visit to the Centre was
very supportive. Her words encouraged WCCC to carry on with the
work they are doing in supporting
and educating women, changing
attitudes and recognizing human
rights.
"We recognize that the centre has a
significant role to play not only in
providing support to women and
their families but in changing attitudes and in educating people to
understand that supporting women
and recognizing humans rights is not
only the right thing to do, it's the
smart thing to do”, stated Bishop.
WCCC Director, ‘Ofa Guttenbeil
Likiliki made a special acknowledgement of the Foreign Minister’s
portfolio where being Australia’s first
female Foreign Affairs Minister following 112 years of male leadership
in that position is a historical milestone for both Australian women and
women across the Pacific.
The Director also acknowledged Australia’s ongoing efforts and commitments to eliminating violence against
women and girls throughout the Pacific, “we are passionate about we do
and although it is challenging work,
with your governments support we
are able to overcome many of those
challenges — at the end of the day—
it’s about building societies that see
women and men, girls and boys as
equal and where we all treat each
other with dignity and respect and
unless we start seeing these changes,
violence against women and girls will
continue to rise.”
The Hon. Julie Bishop’s visit was her
first visit to Tonga in her ministerial
post.
The WCCC’s Community, Training and
Awareness Team continued to carry
out awareness programs to schools
and communities. This is one of its
services in educating the public that
violence against women and girls is
harmful, as some people still make up
excuses and justification for violence.
Above: Teachers and students of
GPS Longolongo
“Still, there are a lot of people who do
not believe it. Therefore, it is important for us from the Centre to provide evidence about this problem. In
reality, this is not easy, for some parents still argue that the most effective
way for them to discipline their children is using corporal punishment.
However, with our awareness programs, some parents are starting to
understand the impacts and negative
effects of violence on both women
and children”, said Lesila To’ia, the
Community Educator.
It is the hope of the Centre, that
spreading the message that violence
Left top:
GPS Lapaha.
Left middle:
GPS Popua.
Left bottom:
Staff of Mango
Tree.
Top right:
GPS Mu’a.
Below right:
Longolongo
women’s group.
is not ok, and providing information,
will help influence people’s attitudes.
Then they will accept, respect and
treat others as their equals.
Awareness programs were conducted
at the Tonga Institute of Science and
Technology, Tonga College ‘Atele, the
Mango Tree Centre and with a women’s group at Longolongo.
The Stay Safe Program for primary
schools was carried out at Government
Primary Schools at Ma’ufanga, ‘Atele,
Mu’a, Lapaha, Longolongo and Popua.
This program is aimed at educating
children on how to be safe and secure.
It also assists children to differentiate
good touches from bad touches and
encourages them to report anything
that seems suspicious to them.
Overall, the program emphasises that
our children are special and precious
to us, therefore should not be subject
to violence and abuse.
Case study:
“I have no voice at all”
It was a shock that my husband treated me this way after a short time of
marriage. He beat me, swore at me
and said bad words that really hurt
me. He beat me with a piece of timber, a coconut scraper and threw
things at me. It was really hard for me
to tell how he would react to something that I did, if he would like it or
not.
More than five times I sought help
from the police, and the truth is, they
did nothing to solve our problems.
Even my parents and my family were
always begging me to go back to him
because of our children. We have six
children.
Our problems have had a huge impact
on our children’s education. My other
relatives were sick of stopping us ar-
The Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) has resumed its weekly
radio programs as part of its community education and outreach.
guing and fighting all the time and I
just couldn’t handle it. He’s the type
who can’t talk in a peaceful way, he
doesn’t want to listen to anything I
say, I have no voice at all. Whatever
he does and says he thinks he’s right.
He wants me when he gets back from
work, to cook his food, clean the
house, wash and iron his clothes and
hang them to make it easy for him to
pick the clothes he wants to wear.
All this time I’ve been back and forth
to the police with no progress and no
solution to our problems. I sought help
from different people and then heard
about the Women and Children Crisis
Centre from a close relative. I went
straight to the Centre, and told them
my problems. I had a counseling session with the counselor and also sup-
port from their legal officer.
Finally I made my decision to have a
Police Safety Order (PSO) issued to
my husband, for my and the children’s safety. I also decided to apply
for child maintenance.
I thank WCCC for their great support
because without them I may not
have escaped from the violent relationship I was stuck in. Now I feel
safe and free. I encourage all women
who are still trapped in the same
situation to get out from it and do
something to stop that violent relationship. If you don't the violence will
continue and it will not stop until you
do something to stop it. So I recommend you seek help from WCCC any
time you want, they are there to help
you in whatever way they can.
Reaching out
The programs are aimed at reaching
out to the remote areas and outer
islands where they do not have direct
access to the WCCC’s services.
“It is helpful for the public to be reminded frequently that violence is
happening in Tonga and it is a crime.
It needs to be stopped. The radio
programmes are also a means of
letting women and children know of
the existing support services where
they can get help when experiencing
violence and abuse. It is never too
late to seek help”, said Lesila To’ia the
WCCC Community Educator.
The programs have covered in detail
issues that the WCCC addresses including Domestic Violence and Child
Sexual Abuse. They will continue to
cover other issues and related topics
in future.
From left to right: Sela Sausini Tu’ipulotu (Counsellor Advocate), Malia Forget-me
-not Tu’itupou (Counsellor Advocate) and Lesila Lokotui To’ia (Staff Team Leader
and Community Education Trainer).
One client came to WCCC after she
was directed to the Centre by her
mother who heard the radio programs in New Zealand. The programmes encourage people, especially women and children, to come for-
ward and use the support services of
the centre.
They also influence people to reconsider their views and attitudes to violence against women and children.
Network
caring for
people living
with disability
The Women and Children Crisis
Centre (WCCC) was one of the
non-government
organisations
awarded for its work with people
living with disabilities at the official opening of the new Social
Protection and Disability Office, a
new portfolio of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs.
The award was presented by Her
Majesty
Queen
Nanasipau’u
Tuku’aho the guest of honour at
the ceremony in Wesley square,
Tungi Colonnade.
In her keynote address, Her Majesty emphasized “these are the
people that need our love and
care. Often they are left out,
ashamed of and hidden by families and ignored. I am grateful and
acknowledge the government for
this important work. I also thank
Non-Government Organisations
that are helping out these people,
for they are a part of us.”
The Queen was moved by a skit
from the Fili Tonu Drama Group
about how some people living
with disability are treated. She
also reflected on her time working
at the ‘Ofa Tui mo e ‘Amanaki
(OTA) centre.
Certificates were awarded to government ministries and nongovernment organisations that
work together with people with
disabilities.
Case study
My husband and I have been married for almost twenty years, we
have six children and both of us work for a living.
It was the saddest day of my life when I learned that my husband had
lied to me. I have been living in a violent relationship with my husband. Whenever I asked him to tell me the truth that is when I got
beaten up. And because I still loved my husband, one day I followed
him to the house of the other woman he was seeing and I hid outside
while he went inside.
I waited until he came out of the house. On his way back he found me
outside and beat me there and then took me home.
Our violent relationship had a huge impact on my work and my family, especially my children. I was absent from work many times and our
children started to hate their father because they saw and heard what
he did to me.
I lived in pain every day and our relationship started to break down. I
was trying to think of a way to solve our problems and I reached a
point where I decided to go straight to the workplace of the woman
my husband was seeing and talk to her.
I saw no other option so I decided to go and see my husband’s girlfriend. While I was waiting at the reception area one of the customers
started talking to me. We had a conversation, and I couldn’t hold on
to my pain so I shared it with this person.
She asked me if I had been to the Women and Children Crisis Centre to
seek their assistance and talk to them. I told her “no”. She encouraged me to go to the centre because they provide services for women
and children. They have a legal officer, police officer, a nurse and the
counsellors if I need someone to talk to.
During our conversation I made my decision that I would launch a
complaint with the police. I went straight to the Crisis Centre and told
them my problem and launched a complaint. The police officer issued
a Police Safety Order (PSO) to my husband to remove him from our
house. This was a huge relief.
I still receive follow up from the Centre. I am very happy now and safe
with my children. I acknowledge the Centre for their help and support
and I encourage any women who are living in pain and fear in violent
relationships to visit the Centre and seek their help and assistance.
MALO ‘AUPITO!
The WCCC sends a huge MALO ‘AUPITO (thank you) to
those individuals, organisations, associations and groups
who have made the following donations to the Centre over
the last 3 months;

Heilala Charity from Australia – Desktop computers,
laptops, refrigerators, TV, DVD player and musical
instruments (electric guitar and a piano)

Rev. John and Ann Connan from the
Mission Liaison Group) – Ten school bags with
complete school materials and clothes.
Thank you very much for always thinking of the Women
and Children Crisis Centre.
Ten school bags
with complete
school materials.
Shoes and clothes
refrigerator
Piano
Electric
guitar
TV flat screen
Laptop computer
DVD player
Flat screen computer