The common attitudes and beliefs in society needs to be transformed to ensure people reject violence against women and girls especially through key channels of influence.

Head of Corporation at the EU Delegation for the Pacific, Christoph Wagner says this can be achieved by working with one key influencer such as faith based organizations.

Wagner says working with religious leaders will help them to address the issue of norms.

“There is a complete wrong perception that religion justifies violence. There is also wrong perception on male authority as it is not about violence and I think this has to be made very much clear.”

Wagner says it will take time to change these norms and it will require support from relevant stakeholders.