Source: Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre
The Pacific Women’s Network Against Violence Against Women (PWNAVAW) is convening its 10th Regional Meeting at Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi from 26–30 October 2026, marking more than three decades of grassroots, feminist, human rights and evidence-based action to eliminate violence against women and girls.
Established following the first Pacific Regional Meeting on Violence Against Women organised by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) in 1992, PWNAVAW has grown from a network created to support women working against violence, often in isolation and with limited resources, into a regional movement for women’s human rights.
The 10th Regional Meeting brings the Network together to reflect on progress, examine the challenges facing Pacific women and girls, exchange knowledge and strengthen collective strategies to address violence against women and girls and women’s human rights. This year’s Network meeting brings together representatives from women’s crisis centres, organisations working to eliminate violence against women and girls and advance women’s human rights, male advocates for women’s human rights, and government representatives from across the Pacific, including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Bougainville.
PWNAVAW Chair Shamima Ali said the milestone was an opportunity to recognise the Network’s achievements while confronting the work that remains.
“The 10th Regional Meeting is an important moment for us to reflect on how far we have come, but also on how much work remains to be done. For more than three decades, this Network has brought Pacific women together in solidarity to challenge violence against women and girls, patriarchy and promote women’s human rights
“Our strength has always come from Pacific women sharing our experiences, supporting one another and standing together for women’s human rights. As we meet again, we must continue to ensure that Pacific women’s voices, knowledge and leadership remain at the centre of efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls in our region,” Ali said.
The Network was founded on the recognition that violence against women and girls is a human rights issue caused by patriarchy, and that Pacific women working to address violence needed a space for solidarity, learning and collective action.
Over more than three decades, PWNAVAW members have contributed to raising awareness of violence against women and girls, strengthening survivor support services, advocating for legislative and policy reform, improving access to justice and building Pacific expertise and leadership on women’s human rights.
The Network has also provided a critical space for members to share experiences and strategies, strengthen their knowledge and skills and support each other in responding to emerging challenges.
FWCC has served as the Secretariat of PWNAVAW since its establishment, facilitating regional collaboration, training, mentoring, advocacy, research and knowledge-sharing.
The Network remains grounded in feminist principles and a commitment to human rights, and survivor-centred responses to violence against women and girls.
As PWNAVAW meets for the 10th time, it continues the tradition established at its first regional gathering in 1992: creating a space for Pacific voices and leadership to drive the regional movement to end violence against women and girls.
The 10th PWNAVAW Regional Meeting concludes on Friday, 30 October 2026.