Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme

Background

From 1998-2001 New Zealand Police and New Zealand Aid provided support for Pacific police services primarily in Kiribati, Cook Islands, Tonga and Niue to build their capacity to prevent/respond effectively to domestic violence. Feedback from these programmes indicates that while the assistance was well received in the region there is a need for more consistent and on-going support.

Over the 2003/2004 period New Zealand Police and New Zealand Aid continued planning a regional programme as part of the Pacific Regional Policing Initiative. The New Zealand Police, New Zealand Aid and Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police agreed to progress the Domestic Violence Programme in the Pacific. New Zealand Aid and New Zealand Police commited to deliver a 5-10 year family violence programme for a Safer Pacific Free from Domestic Violence.

In 2004 a design team consisting of Superintendent John Kelly New Zealand Police, Sergeant Jim Sole New Zealand Police, Sergeant Glenn Taplin New Zealand Police, Assistant Commander Lautoa Faletau Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Secretariat and Marion Quinn New Zealand Aid Design Consultant was set up to scope the Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme in the Pacific.

In 2006 the Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Team was established within the International Service Group at Police National Headquarters.

Management structure

The governing body of the PPDVP is the Management Team which consists of representatives from New Zealand Aid, the Pacific Island Chief of Police and New Zealand Police.

The PPDVP implementation body consists of a Programme Manager, Programme Officer, Support Officer and in-country mentors who are New Zealand Police Officers. The Programme Manager, Programme Officer and Support Officer are full time appointments from New Zealand Police.

The New Zealand Police members work as country mentors in their chosen countries on a part time basis.

Contractors are also employed when reqired.

The Management Team is advised by a Regional Advisory Committee consisting of leading regional actors in the Domestic Violence arena including the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police, New Zealand Police, New Zealand Aid, Pacific Regional Policing Initiative, Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, UNIFEM and Regional Rights Resource Team.

The Regional Advisory Committee meets twice yearly.