Countries/Region Paci c Island Countries in Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa and Tuvalu. The Principal Investigator is: Dr Tony Crook, Director, Centre for Pacific Studies, University of St Andrews The Co-Investigators are: Ms Ramona Boodoosingh, Centre for Samoan Studies, National University of Samoa Professor Annelin Eriksen, Bergen Pacific Studies Research Group, University of Bergen Professor Sue Farran, Law School, University of Northumbria (& University of the South Pacific) Dr Fiona Hukula, National Research Institute of Papua New Guinea Dr Simon Kenema, Centre for Pacific Studies, University of St Andrews Dr Lynda Newland, Centre for Pacific Studies, University of St Andrews (& University of the South Pacific) Ms Angelina Penner, Bergen Pacific Studies Research Group, University of Bergen Mr Galumalemana Steven Percival, Centre for Samoan Studies, National University of Samoa Assistant Professor, Dr Manuel Rauchholz, Institute of Anthropology, University of Heidelberg Ms Emilie Roëll, Development Consultant Associate Professor Penelope Schoeffel, Centre for Samoan Studies, National University of Samoa Ms Tammy Tabe, Bergen Pacific Studies Research Group, University of BergenThe prevalence of violence against women in the Pacific region is among the highest in the world. Countries across the Pacific region have put in place policy strategies, legal frameworks and a raft of initiatives, but against their own and internationally accepted indicators there has been poor progress towards gender equality, despite the development cooperation efforts of many donors over several decades. What are the cultural contexts shaping the contemporary situation? Why is the current paradigm underpinning gender policy apparently ineffective in grasping the social actions that produce gender inequality in the Pacific?Publisher PD