THE Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) publicly condemn the weekend’s act of violence against the 48-year-old woman, who died after being assaulted, with evidence of body wounds and bruising, at the National Referral Hospital.

Hon Freda Tuki Soricomua, Minister for MWYCFA, is calling on all husbands and boyfriends to start changing their behaviours towards their wives and girl-friends in finding non-violent solutions to their intimate problems and family issues.

This call is also for women and girls too to respect their husbands and partners and to find non-violence solutions to their domestic issues.

The acts of violence in the last couple of months have just confirmed the Ministry’s national research Family Health and Safety Study that 64 percent of women between ages 15 – 49 in Solomon Islands have experienced violence by their intimate partner – a husband or a boyfriend.

The minister also calls on the churches, community chiefs and community leaders to work with government and the civil societies who are engage in programmes to raise awareness to stop family violence and gender based violence, and service provision to support and protect victims of violence.

Violence against women and girls is a grave violation of human rights and it can only be put to an end by addressing its root causes – gender inequality and discrimination against women.

The ministry calls for all partners and stakeholders to work with the government to implement its recently launched Eliminating Violence against Women and Girls Policy for effective prevention strategies that address the root causes of gender inequality so that women and men be equally valued in the society and can exercise equal rights.

It calls for strong partner coordination for better services for women survivors of violence and for effective implementation of the Family Protection Act to protect women from domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence, including sexual harassment and rape, and for the harsher penalties and punishment of the perpetrators.

Everyone, in particular men and boys, can help to reach the goal of creating a community free from all forms of violence against women and domestic violence.

Each and every one of us can help to challenge gender stereotypes, harmful cultural practices and discrimination against women.

The Ministry has renews it call for everyone to champion the cause to stop domestic violence, to eliminate violence against women and girls, and to report any incidence of violence to the Police.

Eliminating violence against women and girls is a national issues and has serious consequences for the victims but it also negatively affects families, the community and the country at large.

Preventing violence against women can save lives and prevent human suffering, and it is everybody’s business to take responsibility to ensure that our communities are safe and families are protected.

The Ministry conveys it condolences to the family of the deceased woman. The ministry shares its sorrow of losing a loved one.

If you are or someone you know is experiencing violence, you can access help by calling:

Police                                     999 (emergency) or 22999 (enquiries)

Family Support Centre        20619 or 26999

Christian Care Centre                      7418842

Social Welfare                                 20569 or 20686

Seif Ples 24 hour Hotline   132

The killing was reported in the Solomon Star on June 7, 2017

–MWYCFA PRESS