Comments from WCCC Coordinator, February

Despite the immense challenges that we have faced and continue to face as a new organisation, establishing ourselves has been nothing but an overwhelmingly empowering process. While our overall aim is to eliminate violence against women and children in Tonga through free counselling and support services, we are doing this using a human rights–based approach. We are focussing heavily on women and children in Tonga being agents of change rather than just beneficiaries,  changing from the “helpless in need” approach to the “claimant of justice and human rights” approach.  To enable us to do this more effectively, we will continue lobbying the Government of Tonga to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).  

In our prevention strategy, we will continue to: raise awareness and teach women’s and children’s rights across the country; support creative ways of self-expression; encourage and work with emerging leaders among young women; and create a pool of human rights and gender equality advocates in Tonga who will shape legislative reform and promote women’s and children’s access to social justice.  It’s definitely going to be an exciting journey for all of us here at the WCCC.

Last but not the least, let me take this opportunity to say malo ‘aupito to all our family and friends who have been hugely supportive of us, and to all those who have so kindly donated and contributed to the establishment of the WCCC – we all own this centre, so let’s make it work!!!