High Court judge Justice Stephen Pallaras QC yesterday gave an awareness talk to members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church at Burns Creek, east Honiara.
The church invited Justice Pallaras QC to ask about issues of violence and of family problems.
It was also his first time to attend such program out in the community.
Church elder Caleb Anisi said they have invited the judge to talk at the church annual program “ENDITNOW Violence.”
He said the program is held annually by SDA churches worldwide.
“For us this year, we have invited the judge to come and give an awareness talk relating to ‘ENDITNOW Violence’ and to make everyone aware that it needs to stop,” Anisi said.
Hei said this is the first time a judge was invited to attend such program at the church.
“The “ENDITNOW Violence” is a program the church carried out to inform church members that problems, abuses and all sorts of violence starts at home, in a church member’s house.
He said he is happy that the judge has come and gave this awareness talk and to take questions from the church members.
“This session has really helped our church members understand a lot more on this issue.”
He said a lot of problems that are happening in our country involve violence and abuse in the home and communities.
Young church member Ramokasa Anisis said the question and answers have been very informative as they gave him better understanding on issues of violence.
He said it made him aware that though “we have choices to do what we want we have conscious to guide us on what is wrong and right”.
“I have learned a lot in the program,” he said.
“It made us look back at the value of what we think and what the churches try to teach us.
“We as Christians need to look after each other in the community.”
“I hope other churches have this chance for this type of session we have today,” Anisi added.
Justice Pallaras talked mainly about the rights of the people.
He spoke on issues relating to sexual violence and violence on women and girls and their vulnerability to violence n the community.
He had told church members that if they see anyone attacked a girl they have the right to report it to police.
In relation to some questions raised by some church members on how they are to deal with someone they saw assaulting another person that they can assist the victim in every way possible to help.
He told them that “we all have the obligation to look after each other in the community”.
A lot of church members including the Member of Parliament for Central Guadalcanal Peter Shanel, women, men and children have had the chance to ask the judge questions.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
