THE Family Health and Safety Study Dissemination Team conducted a two-day workshop in Taro, Choiseul Province, recently.
The team was commissioned by the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children Affairs, to ensure that the main findings and the recommendations of the Family Health and Safety Study is widely disseminated in the nine provinces, including Honiara, to all responsible men and women leaders.The team paid a courtesy call to the Choiseul Province Premier Jackson Kiloe before the presenting began with the team a copy of the report to the province.
The two day workshop was opened by Mr Kiloe, and was attended by a total of 62 participants who were Provincial leaders, ward representatives, chiefs and heads of divisions, community leaders & civil society groups from right across Choiseul to as far as Wagina.
The Premier in his opening remarks strongly expressed that nation-building starts at home with the family.
“Men and women have the responsibility,” he said.
Pionie Boso, GBV Coordinator presented the findings and highlighted the severity of the issue assisted by four other team members.
The workshop participants heard that child abuse is a growing problem where young girls below the age of 15 years are being sexually violated.
Two out of three women also experienced physical or sexual violence by their own husbands and partners.
The report also found that Solomon Islands is currently ranked 4th highest out of 20 or so other countries that did a similar study and that sexual violence is extremely high for the Solomon Islands.
Choiseul participants were shocked by the findings, however responded positively after intense discussions focusing on areas like cultural beliefs and norms which are likely to have affected the statistics of violence indirectly or directly, not only in Choiseul province but right across the whole of Solomon Islands.
The workshop which was closed by the Provincial Secretary John Tabepunda.
Choiseul Province pledged to commit itself to supporting women’s issues through the province’s Women’s Development Division.
The two day workshop was held at Qurusu Hall in Taro.
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