French Polynesia releases new violence report

French Polynesia’s vice president, Chantal Galenon, along with legal officials, announced the release of the second edition of an observatory report on violence against women and intrafamily violence. The report will be published on November 19 and will focus specifically on sexual intrafamily violence.

Report highlights rising cases of violence

The first president of the Papeete Court of Appeal, Gwenola Joly-Coz, stated that cases of intrafamily violence have increased significantly since the first report was published in 2025. There has been a 75 percent increase in reports on Tahiti and Moorea, with 570 women testifying in court this year—15 percent more than the previous year.

Report focuses on numerical data only

Joly-Coz emphasized that the observatory report will only present numerical data without exploring underlying factors such as alcohol, drugs, or family contexts. The report will reveal statistics on rape and murder by spouses, with 33 cases handled in 2026, 80 percent of which involved rape.

New child protection center to be built

At the end of the year, the first stone will be laid for a new child protection center called Pū Merahi Ayden. The center, expected to be completed by 2028, will provide shelter and emergency care for children aged 3 to 12 who are at risk.

Vice president highlights urgent need

Chantal Galenon, the vice president in charge of family affairs, shared emotional testimony about the removal of 973 children from their families in recent years due to safety concerns. She will attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the new center unless the Territory’s president decides otherwise.