PRESS RELEASE - Call for the prompt return of Mr. Chris Kelly

The Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) would like to call for the return of Mr. Chris Kelley to a renewed contract under the Ministry of Police as Police Commissioner.

WCCC Director, Ofa-ki-levuka Guttenbeil-Likiliki said, “Mr. Kelley has consistently taken real action to improve the police force response to end Violence Against Women and Children. The role that Police play is absolutely critical to acknowledge and work towards ending these crimes against women and children.”

WCCC acknowledges his significant contribution to the improvement of systems and processes within the Police in dealing with and addressing domestic violence and all forms of violence against women and girls in Tonga.

We also acknowledge his contributions to strengthening relationships between the police and the NGO and CSO sector, bringing together key leaders to form the first ever National Advisory Committee to the Police on Domestic Violence.

We further acknowledge his commitment towards developing the first ever Domestic Violence Policy Draft within the Police and his call for Non Government Organizations (NGO) and Community Service Organizations (CBOs) contributions towards this Policy.

We appreciate his firm stance on the No Drop Policy and appreciated the roll out of this policy within the Police while at the same time noting that further training is needed in this area to improve front line reporting and victim support.

We value his passion and his determination to share domestic violence statistics, relevant information and best practices on the elimination of all forms of violence in Tonga, particularly of violence against women and girls.

The WCCC calls for urgent government action to facilitate the return of Mr. Chris Kelley to the position of Police Commissioner.

 [ENDS]

 For more information please contact ‘Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki on ofa.guttenbeil@gmail.com