A gender-based violence counseling course designed to strengthen the quality and culturally appropriate capacity of counselling services that deal with survivors of gender based violence in the Pacific is underway at Pearl Resort in Pacific Harbour.

More than 25 counsellors from 10 Pacific countries are participating in the level 1 gender based violence course which will run for two weeks.

This course comes after the Review of Counselling Services in the Pacific Final Report released in March last year.

That report recommended that support is provided to strengthen the foundation skills for counsellors, including principles of human rights and gender equality as well as ensuring training is followed by ongoing mentoring by skilled counsellors.

These counsellors not only help women but also men, children and members of other groups in society.

Course facilitator, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator Shamima Ali says an area of focus for them has been reaching to people in the maritime areas in Fiji who may not always have counselling services available for them.

UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office Ending Violence Against Women Programme Advisor, Abigail Erikson says they are working with partners on a regional approach which incorporates quality standardized training.

The course is funded by the Pacific partnership that brings together governments, civil society organisations, communities and other partners to promote gender equality and prevent violence against women and girls.

The EUR19.5 million Pacific Partnership is funded primarily by the European Union with targeted support from the Australian government and UN Women.