(BASED ON A PRESS RELEASE— Monday, 23 November 2009)— Violence against women is a major problem in the Pacific and we all have an essential role to play to put a stop to it, says the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC’s) Director-General, Dr. Jimmie Rodgers.

Dr. Rodgers made this comment in the run up to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, also known as White Ribbon Day, on 25 November. This year’s theme is ‘Commit, Act, Demand: We CAN end Violence against Women!’

The vision of the Pacific region as a peaceful and prosperous place where its people can lead free and worthwhile lives, as outlined in the Pacific Plan, is only possible if gender equality is achieved and violence against women and children is eliminated, says Dr. Rodgers.

Efforts to address the issue need personal, public and political commitment.

“Leaders in our region need to lead from the front. They must demonstrate genuine political will, founded on the principle of mutual respect for one another and equality of all people in Pacific Island countries and territories regardless of race, colour, gender and /or social standing. They must value all their people equally and protect all of them equally,” he says.

He refers to a newly published Family Health and Safety Study with a focus on women and children in Solomon Islands which shows that 64 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 who have been in a relationship have reported experiencing physical or sexual violence, and sometimes both, by an intimate partner.

“The findings of the Solomon Islands Family Health and Safety Study (SIFHSS) give an indication of the pervasiveness of the problem in the region,” he says.

The SIFHSS is part of a multi-country study that has been undertaken in three Pacific countries so far. The other two are Kiribati, where research was undertaken simultaneously with Solomon Islands, and Samoa, where the study took place eight years ago.

The Kiribati and Solomon Islands studies were coordinated by SPC with funding from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The report for the Kiribati study will be published early next year.

The research has led to the development of national action plans in both countries to eliminate violence against women. These action plans will outline the steps that will be taken over the coming years to end violence against women. The development of the action plans is a consultative process involving the government, police, the health sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and various development agencies.

Some of the steps planned include the development of policies and legislation to protect women and children who are affected by violence. They also include training of various stakeholders such as police and health care personnel to improve the response to violence against women and the assistance given to victims.

SPC will be taking part in different events in a number of Pacific Island countries and territories to mark White Ribbon Day.

(Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Press Release)