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Pangai, Ha’apai: A dynamic two-day workshop held recently in Pangai, Ha’apai, has sparked renewed energy and commitment among frontline agencies working to end gender-based violence (GBV) in Tonga.

Facilitated by the Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC), the interactive training brought together representatives from the Police, Health, Education, Justice, and Social Services sectors to strengthen collaboration and deepen understanding of gender equality, human rights, and coordinated GBV response.

Participants dove into key concepts through engaging sessions on:

Gender relations and gender equality

Human rights and Tonga’s national, regional, and international commitments

The National GBV Delivery Pathway Protocol

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV)

From powerful group discussions to practical tools, the training empowered participants to not only understand GBV – but to lead the change in their communities and institutions.

Police Magistrate Viliami Mo’ale emphasised the importance of collaboration in GBV response and encouraged all sectors in Ha’apai to actively partner with WCCC, who bring deep expertise and a trauma-informed, survivor-centred approach to this vital work.

Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive. One male attendee shared, “These workshops shift mindsets. They’re exactly what we need to change harmful behaviours and improve how we serve our people.” A female participant added, “I’ve never done a training like this before – it was eye-opening, and I now know we all have a role in stopping abuse and violence.”

WCCC Director ʻOfa Guttenbeil-Likiliki said the training is the result of years of learning and refining:

“This program has been carefully developed over four years, drawing on the deep experience of our team who have worked on the frontlines of GBV in Tonga for over 15 years. Every session is tailored for the Tongan context – this is not a copy-paste training. It’s real, relevant, and rooted in our cultural realities.”

Want to Transform How Your Agency Responds to GBV?

WCCC is now offering this Key Agencies Training Program nationwide – and it’s gaining momentum. The program is specifically designed for decision-makers, senior managers, and frontline responders who want to lead with confidence and compassion.

Training Options Include:

** A Two-Day Introductory Workshop – perfect for cross-agency awareness, relationship-building, and shared understanding.

** A Three-Module Deep Dive – three days per module, to be completed within six months. Ideal for senior staff seeking to lead systems change.

** A Two-Week Intensive (10 days) – for frontline responders who need in-depth, hands-on capacity-building. Can be delivered back-to-back or in two one-week blocks within three months.

All sessions are delivered by Tonga’s top gender, human rights, and GBV trainers – grounded in Pacific feminist values, designed to challenge, inspire, and equip.

To book the training for your agency or organisation, contact WCCC today.