Solomon Star News

Our women routinely raped: Amnesty International

The report - Where is the Dignity in That - looked particularly at the abuse suffered by women living in Solomon Island slums, and found 64 per cent of women aged between 15 and 49 in the country had been physically or sexually abused.

The copy of the report which was launched at the PIF meeting this week was also obtained by The Solomon Star.

The depressing report highlighted that women in Honiara’s slums face particularly high risks of physical and sexual violence, especially when they are collecting water in the early evening, bathing, or using toilets at night.

As described above, they often walk long distances, usually through the bush to get to a water source or to use the toilet.

Because there is no electricity, settlements are generally poorly lit at night, with many dark spots which are dangerous for women, the report revealed.

Amnesty International spoke to a number of women who said they were physically or sexually abused by some men outside their household, but were too frightened to make formal complaints to the police for fear of reprisals from their attackers.

“Women were also afraid to use communal toilets at night, which were relatively far away from their homes, especially if they do not have lanterns or torches,” the report said.

“In August 2010, when Amnesty International met with women’s organizations dealing with violence in Honiara, it was evident that there were a large number of sexual assaults happening in slums, many of which went unreported.”

A 23-year-old woman said that she was raped in Adiliwa settlement when she came home late after university classes in September 2008.

She had gone for a bath at dusk in a stream about 100m from her home.

“The man came from nowhere,” she said.

“I was quite shocked! I did not have any undergarments and just had my sarong on. I couldn’t scream because he warned me not to scream. It was very easy for him to rape me! Mifala crae crae nomo! [I just cried and cried]. I can’t believe that it happened to me… I was so stupid to come alone. He was from a neighbouring settlement.”

In another case, an 18-year-old woman spoke about being gang-raped by six men as she went to collect water in the afternoon.
When one man demanded she have sex with him she refused he punched her in the stomach.
"The others then grabbed me and carried me to the bush where I was raped. They each raped me and then left me there after threatening to kill me and my family," she said.
"I was so ashamed for being raped. I vowed not to tell my family because it would bring shame to them. I took the water home and didn't tell my family anything."

The report noted that domestic violence against women was largely ignored and that the abuse continued to be seen as a private issue, with police often reluctant to intervene.

"In a number of settlements ... the existence of a police post in the area has done little to prevent the harassment and assault of women and girls," the report read.
The report described the slum situation in the Solomon’s as unsustainable and in urgent need of Government action.

"The response so far has ranged from outright refusal to acknowledge a problem to toothless gestures.

“It is time for the Government to step up to its responsibilities and restore some hope to these neglected communities."

Launching the report this week, to coincide with the Pacific Islands Forum this week, Amnesty International chief executive Patrick Holmes said the problem of abuse was common throughout the region.

Mr Homes called on Pacific governments to make long term plan to protect women.

"Violence against women is the ultimate physical manifestation of this entrenched discrimination, and the human rights violations that occur are perpetuated by inadequate and outdated legislation," he said.

"The violence is not only a reality, it's our reality and it's one that we all have a responsibility to address."

By DOUGLAS MARAU