Two in three women in the Pacific experience violence, twice the global average. The consequences ripple across health, safety, education, and economies.

Violence reduces women’s participation in work and decision-making, drives higher health and justice costs, and contributes to intergenerational poverty. It is estimated that countries lose 2% to 7% of gross domestic product because of violence against women.

The scale of the problem underscores the need for survivor-centered systems that prioritize rights, needs, and choices. These systems must ensure access to health care, psychosocial services, legal aid, and safe shelters, within a prevention-to-response approach.

Counseling services across Pacific island countries are delivered by non-government organizations (NGOs), faith-based institutions, and government agencies. They play a critical role but face challenges in reach and consistency. Small populations, dispersed geography, weak transport links, limited resources, and entrenched social norms all add to the strain.

A 2017 review identified 85 counseling providers across the Pacific, with more than one-third based in Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Yet a 2023 assessment found that fewer than 4% of health facilities in the region meet standards for treating women affected by violence.

Counselors often work in under-resourced settings and small communities where survivors, perpetrators, and service providers know each other. This closeness may compromise confidentiality and deter survivors from seeking help. Counselors themselves are vulnerable to burnout, isolation, and stress, particularly when they juggle roles as advocates, case coordinators, and community liaisons.

To bridge these gaps, Pacific governments and partners are working to expand structured, professional counseling services. Several actions stand out as essential.

Institutionalize counseling through policy. Many counselors lack recognition, job security, and resources. Few countries have national standards or legal frameworks for counselor registration. Institutionalizing and scaling counseling through national policies can ensure recognition, competency standards, and ethical codes. Regional initiatives are laying the groundwork, offering models that countries can adapt and localize.

Violence reduces women’s participation in work and decision-making, drives higher health and justice costs, and contributes to intergenerational poverty.

Strengthen training and professionalization. Counselors enter the field with varying backgrounds, and many lack access to structured development. Standardized training improves consistency and quality, especially in remote areas. Training programs include accredited university degrees, diplomas, and short courses in trauma-focused therapy and child-centered interventions.

Institutions such as the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre have trained over 1,000 participants. Regional training modules for police, health workers, and community leaders reinforce collaboration. Development financing can further support capacity building and lay the foundation for a Pacific prevention hub for violence against women, serving as a resource for crisis centers and a platform for knowledge-sharing.

Violence reduces women’s participation in work and decision-making, drives higher health and justice costs, and contributes to intergenerational poverty.

Support the supporters. Counselor well-being is fundamental to sustainable services. Support mechanisms such as supervision, team meetings, case discussions, and professional debriefing remain inconsistent. Embedding well-being into institutional culture means providing access to mental health care, regular supervision, paid leave, and flexible work arrangements. Fair pay and clear career pathways are also vital. Peer learning circles and mentorship programs can ease isolation, particularly in remote areas. Where formal structures are lacking, peer platforms help build trust and provide immediate support networks.

Embed counselors across services. Survivors often need a range of support including medical care, legal assistance, shelter, and social services. Counselors are most effective when integrated into systems that bring these together. National referral protocols and joint case management teams help ensure continuity of care.

Integrated models are already emerging. Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu have trained police in family and sexual violence units. In Kiribati and Solomon Islands, the SAFENET referral mechanism links police, health providers, social services, and counseling groups. Today, more than 60% of counseling providers report receiving referrals from police, demonstrating how integration improves access.

Recognize counselors as champions. Celebrating counselors boosts morale and affirms their value. This can include storytelling platforms, survivor feedback, peer forums, and community recognition. Featuring counselor voices in regional forums or blogs, and creating opportunities for survivor feedback, highlights their role as frontline champions.

With violence affecting two in three women in the Pacific, governments, NGOs, donors, and development partners share responsibility for building stronger counseling systems. Scaling up structured support, strengthening training, embedding well-being, integrating services, and recognizing counselors’ contributions are essential to progress.

Success depends on greater coordination to avoid fragmented efforts and ensure equitable access, especially in remote and underserved communities. These steps are central to building a Pacific where survivors can safely access healing and support, and where counselors are recognized and sustained in their vital work.