Incidents of wife beating are generally dealt with in traditional ways within families or by village elders. Abused wives sometimes return to their families if mediation fails. Tonga has a male-dominated society, and women generally occupy a subordinate role. For a woman to rise to a position of leadership, she usually needs to have the support of the nobility or to possess exceptional talent. The King's mother reigned for many years, and a female member of the royal family is one of Tonga's most prominent businesspersons.
Some female commoners hold senior leadership positions in business.
Some village women, with help from NGO's, are leading local development projects. The Government has a women's unit within the Prime Minister's office. Although some NGO's initially viewed this unit with suspicion, it appears to be functioning cooperatively with them. A government-sponsored National Council of Women also is making positive contributions. Children The Government is committed to children's human rights and welfare and provides commensurate funding for children's welfare within the context of the total resources available to the State.