Unrest in the Pacific Riots linked to male-dominated security forces and high rates of GBV – study

COUNTRIES in the region with increased gender-based violence rates and male-dominated security forces are likelier to experience riots and street violence, a new study has found.

The report, titled Riots in the Pacific: Control and Change, which was authored by Australian National University affiliate researcher Dr Anouk Ride and was released by the Australia Pacific Security College.

“In examining the event profiles, it is found that riots are predominantly the domain of male adults and youth,” Dr Ride wrote.

“However, at the periphery of violence, women can also be involved, notably in the looting of stores observed in Tongan and the Solomon Islands riots. For instance, of the 678 people arrested following Tonga’s 2006 riots, 54 were women.

“The dominance of men in riots is not surprising given norms associating men, masculinity and violence throughout the Pacific, as shown by the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) in the region.”

In the report, Dr Ride noted the high rates of GBV in the region as evidenced by the World Health Organization in 2021.

Tonga reported the highest rates of 79 per cent, Samoa experienced 76 per cent, Kiribati with 73 per cent and Fiji and Vanuatu with 72 per cent.

“Gender-based violence is also recognised as a concern in many Pacific states’ national security strategies. This is not to say there is a direct correlation between GBV and rioting, although studies indicate countries that have experienced violent conflict are more likely to have increased rates of GBV.

“However, the legitimising of men’s violence in public and private domains helps to explain why men are more likely to riot on the streets than women.

“This masculinisation of security also extends to the dominance of men in state violence, with the majority of police and armed forces in the Pacific also being male.

“As an extension of this, women who work in these sectors face barriers from their employers and society.”

According to the report, a bulging youth population could also contribute to street violence, especially if factors such as youth unemployment and political inclusiveness were thrown into the mix.

“Pacific population statistics indicate the regional youth bulge has and will continue to be, most prominent in Melanesia, with PNG, Solomons, and Vanuatu having growth rates of 2 per cent or more.”