Nukuʻalofa, Tonga – A public apology posted on Facebook by a parent has renewed national attention on violence against women and children in Tonga, following the circulation of videos online last week that appear to show the alleged mistreatment of a young child.
The incident has sparked widespread public concern and calls for intervention.
The videos, which were widely shared on social media, appear to show a couple socialising at a beach while accompanied by a young child. The woman was seen drinking from what appeared to be a bottle.
In one clip, a man is seen behaving aggressively toward the child, who appears visibly distressed and seeks protection.
Another video appears to show the same woman driving a vehicle, stopping, before speaking to the man from outside the car.
The footage prompted strong reactions online, with many social media users calling on authorities to investigate the matter.
Newly elected Member of Parliament Fane Fituafe shared one of the videos on Facebook and tagged Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) director Ofa Likiliki, urging the organisation to look closely into the incident.
The post further amplified public calls for accountability and child protection.
The apology issued on Facebook this morning, believed to be from one of the parents involved, did not address the allegations in detail but followed days of public backlash.
Kaniva News has chosen not to identify those involved to protect the privacy and safety of the child.
The apology claims that the police approached the parents following the incident; however, the police have not yet released an official statement.
Violence Remains Widespread
The incident comes as the WCCC has expressed deep concern over findings from the newly released Tonga 2024 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which show that violence against women and children remains widespread across the country.
According to the national survey which was released in October:
- 86.1 percent of children aged 1–14 years experienced physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by household members in the past month.
- 33.8 percent of women aged 15–49 years experienced physical, sexual, or psychological violence by an intimate partner within the past year.
The MICS is a global survey initiative developed by UNICEF and the largest source of statistically robust and internationally comparable data on women and children worldwide. It was conducted in Tonga by the Department of Statistics.
The findings were also welcomed by the WCCC.
The organisation said: “This is a momentous milestone for Tonga—one that places the protection, wellbeing, and future of every Tongan child at the centre of our national commitment. The policy represents years of hard work, dedication, and collaboration among government agencies, civil society, and community partners.”
