World Vision joins 16 Day Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

December 06th, 2017 Honiara - World Vision Solomon Islands staff came out with orange colours to join the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence which began in Honiara recently. This year’s theme is “Together We Can End Violence against Women and Girls through Education.” Marked annually, the campaign runs from 25 November, which is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.

This is to emphasise the fact that women’s rights are human rights. In the Solomon Islands, gender-based violence is a prevalent issue. According to the 2009 Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Family Health and Safety Study, 2 out of 3 women have experienced physical and or sexual violence from their intimate partners, with 42 percent of women surveyed reporting physical and/or sexual partner violence in the 12 months before the survey; 37 percent of women reported they had experienced sexual abuse before the age of 15 – primarily perpetrated by male acquaintances and family members. Additionally, women’s help-seeking behaviours in these situations are low with only 18 percent said they have reported the violence they experienced to formal services.

Last Saturday’s activities involved a multi-sectoral float parade through Honiara City from Henderson to White River, with short stopovers at four strategic locations from Henderson to White River to reach more people. Travelling in a vehicle draped with orange colours, World Vision joined partner agencies to raise awareness on gender-based violence. Speaking at one of the strategic locations in Honiara during the float parade, World Vision Gender Coordinator for Honiara Area Program, Nancy Maetoloa Waegao said men should treat women equally.

“Taking into account Solomon Islands statistics with 97 percent Christian, World Vision is using a biblical approach which emphasises that men and women are created equal in the image of God, interdependent, sharing responsibilities and having mutual honour. Therefore, men need to see your wives in this perspective. You are the provider in your family and your wife and children depend much on you for love and protection,” she said.

National Community Policing Director of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Solomon Sisimia also raised awareness of the Family Protection Act during Saturday’s float parade, saying this law criminalises domestic or family violence.

“Before we regard domestic or family violence as a private matter, but now with the Act in place, it is no longer a private matter but a criminal act so if anyone caused injuries to their partner, they will be charged for physical abuse under the Act. People can also be charged if they commit sexual, economic and psychological forms of abuse to their partners.

These are offences under the new Family law,” said Mr Sisimia. The Community Policing Director added they will continue to work with World Vision in reaching our communities with the message that gender-based violence is a criminal offence. The float parade concluded with a candlelight vigil held at the National Art Gallery grounds to remember the victims and survivours of gender-based violence in the Solomon Islands and abroad. Organised activities continue throughout the week until 10 December which is Human Rights Day.