Indo-Pacific men violence programs lack research as of April 2026

New data shows only 6 out of 18 domestic violence programs in the Indo-Pacific use integrated support. This is lower than the level needed to help victims effectively.
By Newsroom | Social Issues, Indo-Pacific |

A significant lack of dedicated research and policy attention is being directed towards domestic and family violence (DFV) across the Indo-Pacific region, despite the area exhibiting some of the highest rates globally. New findings highlight critical gaps in understanding and addressing interventions aimed at men who perpetrate such violence.

Mapping Programs, Identifying Shortfalls

A recent mapping of interventions reveals that most programs focusing on whole-of-community approaches, numbering 18 interventions, are predominantly located outside Australia, with a notable concentration in South and Southeast Asia.

  • This observation points to a regional disparity in how DFV is addressed.

  • The paper, published in the journal Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, underscores the limited focus on this issue within the region's research and policy frameworks.

Expanding the Scope: Grey Literature Review

Recognizing the limitations of relying solely on academic publications, a subsequent review has broadened its scope to include grey literature. This effort seeks to capture valuable unpublished and practice-based work that often falls outside traditional academic channels.

  • The review targets interventions designed to address adult men's use of violence within domestic and family contexts, irrespective of the victim's gender or gender identity.

  • Interventions are required to have been implemented within an Indo-Pacific country.

  • The project builds upon an earlier scoping review that specifically examined peer-reviewed research on perpetrator intervention programs in the region.

"Practitioner feedback highlighted the limitations of relying solely on academic literature, particularly the exclusion of valuable unpublished and practice-based work," the review’s summary notes.

Types of Grey Literature Sought

The review aims to encompass a wide array of non-academic sources, including:

  • Government and policy documents

  • Organisational and program reports

  • Unpublished evaluation studies

  • Unpublished theses and dissertations

  • Practice guides, models, or write-ups of programs or interventions.

This initiative seeks contributions from anyone with relevant materials outlining interventions that involve adult men who use domestic and family violence.

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Integrated Approaches Lagging

Further analysis indicates that only 6 interventions were found to employ multi-agency and integrated approaches. This suggests a broader challenge in coordinating efforts and a potential fragmentation in how DFV is tackled in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is there a lack of research on men's domestic violence programs in the Indo-Pacific in April 2026?
Recent studies show that most programs are not documented in academic journals. Researchers are now looking for unpublished reports to understand how these programs work.
Q: How many integrated violence programs were found in the Indo-Pacific region?
Out of the programs studied, only 6 use a multi-agency approach. This means most programs work alone, which makes it harder to stop violence.
Q: Where are most community-based violence programs located in the Indo-Pacific?
Most of the 18 programs identified are located in South and Southeast Asia. These programs focus on whole-of-community approaches to stop violence.
Q: What type of information are researchers looking for to fix the research gap?
Researchers want government reports, program evaluations, and practice guides. They are asking for any unpublished documents that show how men's violence is being addressed.