How Women in the Pacific Perceive and Reduce the Risk of Crime Victimisation

A pilot study (Putt et al. 2025) conducted in 2024 in five countries in the Pacific region aimed to explore how women perceive their risk in terms of physical and online safety, including financial safety. In this In Brief, we summarise the main themes that emerged from the pilot study in relation to how women seek to protect themselves (and whether this seems to differ from men’s behaviour).

This In Brief draws on research undertaken for the pilot study on women’s safety, which involved a team of nine women researchers working in five countries. Each sub-project had a distinct area of focus and involved the local recruitment of participants based on the researcher’s experience and networks. Employing mixed methods, the study primarily relied on focus groups and interviews, and the participants in each sub-project were invited to complete an online survey. More details on the methodology and on the findings from each location can be found in the report of the pilot study (Putt et al. 2025)