Furthermore, the current approach is failing to collect sufficient data to be able to effectively monitor and evaluate progress. Additionally, the mandate of MWCSD itself reinforces gender stereotypes, rather than seeking to break them down and in doing so address the root causes of family violence. This gender inequality is exacerbated by the Government’s failure to award equal pay to men and women’s village representatives. This is also in the face of widespread criticism of the effectiveness of many village representatives and a failure to hold them to account for the role they are supposed to play. RECOMMENDATION 19: Increase spending and accountability on family violence programmes, placing gender equality at the forefront.    Independent evaluation of current programmes spending based on need and available budget and implementation of recommended spending levels. Equal pay for women and men’s village representatives, awarded on a performance based system that allows for effective monitoring and evaluation. Expand the mandate of MWCSD to include non-gender specific activities and activities which address gender inequalities, such as women in leadership. 14.3 Village Fono INQUIRY FINDING 29: In failing to adopt any formal measures to address family violence, Village Fonos are generally complicit in its prevalence. INQUIRY FINDING 30: Matais are not able to directly protect victims of family violence and taking no responsibility for this, means that matters are kept within the family walls but not resolved. Matais are currently not doing enough to prevent family violence by leading by example and promoting non-violence among their relatives. The Village Fono has a critical role to play in the early prevention of family violence, they are expressly responsible for “promoting social cohesion and harmony”.35 Yet, the Inquiry found little to no evidence of any proactively preventing family violence and the prevalence of matai perpetrators is a significant barrier to it. Given its direct links to the perpetration of family violence, the Village Fono cannot be directly empowered to prevent and protect against it until it has undergone a period of reform. In order to meet its 35 Section 5, Village Fono Amendment Act 2017.