THE Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA), Dr Cedrick Alependava has highlighted alarming national statistics on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) at the Honiara Council of Women-organised festival in the national capital last Thursday.
Dr Alependava delivered the keynote address at the occasion.
He said approximately 42 percent of women or two out of five women in the country experience ‘physical and/or sexual partner violence’ within the last 12 months.
“This statistic underscores the significant and ongoing challenges facing women and girls in Solomon Islands.
“Solomon Islands has some of the highest reordered rate of violence against women and girls. 42 percent or two out of five women have reported experiencing physical and/or sexual partner violence in the last 12 months.
“64 percent (two in three) ever-partnered women aged 15 to 49 reported experiencing physical or sexual violence or both by an intimidate partner in their lifetime.
“73 percent (three out of four) women in Solomon Islands believe that it is justifiable for a man to beat his wife because she was disobedient or unfaithful and/or because he paid a high bride-price and feels he is free to do anything to his wife,” Dr Alependava said.
Globally, Dr Alependava said each year 85,000 women are killed due to violence against women and 140 die from VAWGs daily.
With these alarming national and international statistics on VAWG, he emphasised the urgent need for societal change and the importance of addressing the culture of violence that affects women and girls and called for a unified response from all sectors of the society to create a safer environment for women and girls.
Dr Alependava revealed the statistics as part of a larger campaign to raise awareness about gender-based violence and to advocate for the rights of women and girls.
Addressing the theme of the festival ‘United to end violence against women and girls’, Dr Alependava urged women and girls to unite and also change their behavior towards men and boys by giving more respect to their brothers, uncles and husband.
He encouraged everyone with a scripture reading – Mathew 19: 26, which states that ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’ to highlight the importance of putting God first in efforts to accomplish goals, including the ending of Violence Against Women and Girls.
By JIMMY NOLAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
