Source: Fiji Women's Crisis Centre
Suva, Fiji – 14 September 2026 – The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC) has launched the 46th Regional Training Programme on Violence Against Women and Girls, Human Rights and Development, welcoming 42 participants from 12 Pacific Island countries for four weeks of intensive learning, analysis, reflection and skills development.
Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Palau, Naoero, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Cook Islands are the participating countries.
The participants represent 22 organisations, including women's crisis centres, government departments, non-governmental organisations and other frontline service providers committed to advancing women's human rights and eliminating violence against women and girls throughout the Pacific.
Since its establishment in 1995, the Regional Training Programme (RTP) has become one of the Pacific's most respected and comprehensive capacity-building initiatives on violence against women and girls, gender, and women’s human rights.
The programme continues to strengthen individual and institutional responses to violence against women and girls by equipping participants with the knowledge, skills and analytical tools needed to address the issue as a violation of human rights and a critical development concern.
FWCC Coordinator Shamima Ali said the programme's growth over the past three decades reflects the increasing commitment across the region to ending violence against women and girls.
“We have come a long way since the first Regional Training Programme in 1995, which started with just five participants from Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Today, we welcome an average of 40 participants to each edition of the training.”
Ali said it was encouraging to see increasing numbers of individuals and organisations working to eliminate violence against women and girls applying to participate in the programme.
“The diverse range of participants over the years has allowed us to continuously strengthen and tailor the programme to ensure the training remains relevant and responsive to the challenges surrounding gender inequality and violence against women, girls and children throughout the Pacific.”
She said the Regional Training Programme's strong reputation across the Pacific reflected its quality and impact.
“The Regional Training Programme is highly recommended throughout the region, which is a testament to the quality, strength and capacity of the Pacific Women's Network Against Violence Against Women.”
During the four-week programme, participants will engage in a comprehensive examination of violence against women and girls, including its root cause and consequences, feminist analysis, human rights frameworks, counselling and support services, advocacy and campaigning strategies, legal and policy responses, and approaches to strengthening institutional and community-based interventions.
The training also provides a valuable platform for participants to share experiences, challenges, and best practices from across the Pacific, fostering stronger regional collaboration and solidarity in efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls. There will also be sessions on technology-facilitated violence against women and girls and climate change.
Since its inception, more than 2,000 women and men from Fiji and across the Pacific region have completed the Regional Training Programme. Many have gone on to strengthen services, influence policy, advocate for legislative reform and contribute to national and regional efforts to advance women's human rights and eliminate violence against women and girls.
As the Pacific continues to face high rates of violence against women and girls, FWCC remains committed to supporting organisations and institutions across the region to build effective, survivor-centred responses and drive transformative social change. We acknowledge all donors that have funded participants to be part of this year’s RTP.