Overview:
Data shows one in four women in Palau has experienced physical or sexual violence — a reality now driving the nation into 16 Days of Activism to confront a crisis long endured in silence. Read how leaders, advocates and communities are calling for urgent action.
By: L.N. Rekai
Violence against women in Palau has reached a level that advocates describe as urgent, pervasive and impossible to overlook. One in four women in the nation has been physically and/or sexually abused by an intimate partner, according to national data, illustrating a crisis that continues largely behind closed doors.
This alarming reality frames Palau’s observance of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign running from November 25 to December 10, 2025, following a presidential proclamation calling for united action. President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. affirmed that eliminating violence is not just a social responsibility, but a moral and national imperative.
The proclamation stresses this year’s theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence,” noting that online harassment is rising in Palau and that digital abuse is often inseparable from physical harm and psychological trauma in real life.
The statistics paint an urgent picture. More than 25.2% of ever-partnered women have experienced sexual or physical assault by a partner, and 23% have suffered emotional abuse. When partner and non-partner violence are combined, more than one in three women have endured physical or sexual violence since age 15.
These are not minor incidents. Women report being punched, kicked, choked, dragged and threatened with weapons. Nearly half of those who experience partner violence suffer injuries, some losing consciousness, while many face long-term health effects including psychological distress and suicidal thoughts.
Advocates and government leaders warn that such violence is not an individual problem—it is a national emergency that demands coordinated response. The proclamation urges households, schools, traditional leaders, churches, youth groups, businesses and government agencies to take part in awareness campaigns, challenge harmful behavior, and support survivor-focused services.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to address gender-based violence through policies, community outreach, education and service support, emphasizing that survivors must no longer suffer alone or in silence.
As the 16-day campaign begins, advocates say Palau faces a critical moment: the numbers are no longer abstract, the stories no longer hidden. Each statistic represents a woman whose safety was violated—and a society called to act.
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