Violence against women and children in the Pacific: A systematic scoping review and expert consultation of prevention interventions

The Pacific region experiences some of the world's highest rates of violence against women and children (VAW/C), yet it has also shown leadership and innovation in prevention efforts. Despite progress, evidence gaps remain, particularly regarding intervention impact. This scoping review systematically maps current evidence on VAW/C prevention in the Pacific, complemented by expert consultation. Eleven interventions were identified across five countries - Solomon Islands, Samoa, Aotearoa New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. Most interventions focused on VAW or family violence, with only one directly addressing VAC. Interventions were grouped into four categories based on their mechanisms of action: participatory learning and action, community mobilisation, community response, and policy or institutional response. Several interventions demonstrated promising outcomes, including reductions in VAW, shifts in norms, and increased community engagement. Interventions grounded in Pacific values and knowledge systems showed particularly strong potential. However, most were small in scale, pilot in nature, and assessed over short periods, limiting insight into mechanisms of change, sustainability and scalability. Despite gaps, the diversity and innovation of prevention efforts in the Pacific reflects growing momentum. Realising their potential will require sustained investment, local capacity strengthening, and coordinated implementation of culturally relevant, evidence-informed interventions and evaluation frameworks.