By Loretta B Manele

One of the achievements of Pacific Partnership Phase 1 is Solomon Islands being the first country in the pacific to have launched a domestic violence counselling guide.

This was revealed by Dr Cedric Alependava, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) who was one of the speakers at the launching program of Pacific Partnership Phase 2 and Project Golkipa at Mendana Hotel on Tuesday this week.

He said the Pacific Partnership Phase 1 was a partnership with Solomon Islands government through MWYCFA, SAFENET’s 12 members and 3 key civil societies, Family Support Center and Malaita Christian Care Centre, Sefi Ples and referral center.

Alependava stated that in this phase we can see the strengthening and implementation of national legislation as well as policies.

“One of the achievements in phase 1 was, we were the first country in the pacific to have launched domestic violence counselling guide”

Alependava said they have trained 8 people and will further train more to be able to help survivors and victims.

“One of the key gains in gender equality support by the Pacific Partnership is the expansion of SAFENET, from 8 now we have 12”

Alependava explained that SAFENET is the largest government led program coordinating the sexual and gender-based violence response in Solomon Islands and it supports nine provinces.

Under SAFENET, referrals are made to other services providers to coordinate formal referral pathways as well as prevention and advocacy, program and governance and accountability framework.

Alependava stressed that under Pacific Partnership Phase 1 in supporting government and civil society, they implement best practice standard and guidelines for multi-sectorial services and knowledge to develop on current underdeveloped areas.

These areas are; Solomon Islands domestic violence counselling and ethical practice, Family support services, supervising guide, Solomon Islands domestic violence counselling registry guidelines, 12 Solomon Islands referral pathways, Malaita Christian Care Center, Self-care guidelines and SAFENET.

Alependava said Pacific Partnership Phase 1 was for five years and supported by coordinating organizations, Australia and European Union (EU) as well as UN Women and SPC.

“We are thankful for the support.

So, thank you UN Women, Fiji office in Solomon Islands for help coordinating to be able to prevent violence against women and girls”