Solomon's 'violence against women' status echoed at UN meeting

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Since the adoption of the Solomon Islands Family Health Safety Study (SIFHSS) in 2009, there is now widespread awareness and serious concerns about the prevalence and patterns of violence against women in Solomon Islands. 

This was highlighted by the Permanent Secretary for Women, Youth and Children Affairs, Mrs. Ethel Sigimanu at the 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held last month at the United Nations in New York.

Mrs. Sigimanu who represented Solomon Islands says ‘domestic violence is now defined as a criminal act in the Family Protection Act which parliament passed in 2014.  Also sexual offences under the Penal Code were amended and passed by Parliament last year and the Child and Family Welfare Act was passed by Parliament this year.  

Mrs. Sigimanu cautioned however that much remains to be done nationwide.  She says as long as domestic violence continues, there can be no tangible and development in and across the country.

The last two weeks’ 61st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women drew the attendance of 162 Member States, including 89 representatives at the Ministerial level.  

Mrs. Sigimanu told the gathering, “We are still swimming against the tide, but we are riding on the waves that the Solomon Islands Family Health and Safety Study have produced. With determination and courage, we will get there!”

Mrs. Sigimanu, also national coordinator of SIFHSS, concluded much to the applause of her attentive audience who in the last two weeks were considering the most effective ways in which to bring about change for women in the world of work.
More than 3,900 representatives from 580 civil society organizations descended on New York from 138 countries, attesting to the growing strength and unity of women’s voices around the world.

ENDS///

 Source:  Government Communication Unit (GCU)

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