WCCC wins Global Social Change Institute Activist Award

WCCC is the recipient of the first Global Social Change Film Festival & Institute (GSCFFI) Activist Award!!

 WCCC Co-ordinator, Ofakilevuka Guttenbeil-Likiliki, said “This award is a huge honour as the first ever given by the global social Change Film Festival and Institute. It commends our dedication to empowering women and raising awareness about violence against women, an issue that receives scant attention, but is an urgent human rights issue impacting Tonga as it does every country in the world”

It is the second award relating to the advancement of human rights that the organisation has recieved in two months -  WCCC won the organisation category of the Regional Rights Resource Team and the Secretariat of the Pacific Counsel in partnership with the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre.

 The WCCC was selected in partnership with The Global Fund for Women and will be honored with the award at the inaugural festival in Ubud, Bali April 13-17, 2011. The GSCFFI aims to create a space where activists, filmmakers, and local communities can come together to promote progressive social change and intercultural understandings.  The theme for the Bali 2011 film festival is “Women & Film.”

It is great to be acknowledged for the work that all at WCCC do – we work to eliminate violence in the kingdom. We want to create safe happy homes and workplaces so that all can live a life that is free from abuse” said Guttenbeil- Likiliki.

 The WCCC received 354 clients in 2010, of which the majority are domestic violence cases. Increased reporting of sexual violence has been a trend for the centre in 2010, which incorporates rape, sexual harassment and incest. “It is commendable to see more women coming forward to report cases of abuse” said Guttenbeil- Likiliki.

 In 2011 the Crisis Centre will be launching the ‘it’s not ok’ campaign which intends to make it clear that violence in the home and the workplace is not acceptable.