Transcript
Surveys show that two-thirds of Pacific women and girls have experienced violence by an intimate partner or family member.
Papua New Guinea has the highest rate of 70 percent, with Solomon Islands and Kiribati not far behind.
Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki, of the Pacific Women's Network, says despite the rising rates, its male advocacy programme is working.
"I think it's a programme or model that should be shared with the rest of the world because it's home-grown, it was developed by Pacific men and women, and it speaks to our context."
The programme was started more than ten years ago.
One of the first male advocates, Melki Anton from Papua New Guinea, says it's based on very strong principles of human rights.
But he says it's been challenging to change attitudes.
"It's not easy this shift because of the social and cultural norms that exist in our Pacific culture where men are holding on to very strong patriarchal attitudes that is supported by inequalities that you find in the church and religion where as far as male domination is concerned."
Mr Anton says because the programme's home-grown, it has had a better chance of success than overseas-designed programmes.
"Men have realised their own violence including me when I started in this programme. I may not be physically violent to women, but in the way I speak, in the way I'm in control or intimidate, that can also be included as part of violence."
Another male advocate Fijian Tura Lewai says the advocates around the region have varied backgrounds but with one common goal.
"There are a lot of privileges that are accorded to us just by being born a man. We work on influencing through our work in our different spheres about ensuring that the voices, that the experiences of women, are heard in all these spaces."
But Tura Lewai says the male advocates want to stop being labelled as champions.
He says the true champions are the women brave enough to flee from a violent situation or partner.
