The statistics around the physical, emotional and monetary costs of abuse against women and girls in the Pacific region are dismaying.

Within the Pacific region, around 80 per cent of children have experienced some form of direct violence or abuse.

Evidence also shows that 57 per cent of women in the South Pacific have been violently harmed by their partner, and that a girl who witnesses the abuse of her mother is more likely to become a victim of violence herself when she grows up.

The Oceania Football Confederation, in collaboration with UNICEF, wants to help change these statistics.

During the OFC U-19 Women’s Championship held in Auckland, New Zealand this month, the six competing teams put forward ambassadors to join the global #ENDviolence campaign.

These young women share the campaign’s aim to develop respect, understanding and tolerance among girls and boys, women and men, and the community as a whole.

They too want to see the risk factors associated with gender-based violence in the Pacific reduced.

The OFC would like to express its admiration to each of these sporting champions who have spoken up against violence and who will continue to advocate for an End to Violence.