MEN are urged to respect the human rights and integrity of women.
President of Solomon Islands National Council of Women (SINCW) Ella Kauhue made the appeal following the discovery of the bodies of a couple at their Mbuburu/Lengakiki home, Monday.
Police are investigating the case.
But initial findings suggest the husband may have murdered his wife before killing himself.
“Regardless of the many great men we have in the country, women continue to lose their lives as result of men’s aggressiveness and anger,” Ms Kauhue said in a statement.
“This was a cowardice act by someone whom the family have trusted to be the head and protector of the individual lives in the family,” she added.
“Women and girls continue to suffer a great deal from the hands of those who at one time have loved, protect and held with respect.
“This is a frightening scenario, one that this country cannot afford to take lightly.
“It has reached epidemic level regardless of the good work that women’s organisations are doing as well as NGOs.
“However, amidst all these great work, something is still missing.
“The whole idea of the kind of culture we are trying to create when violence against women is addressed is an area to be concentrated on.
“What are the targeted groups in here, the community, the women or who?”
Ms Kauhue said the trend that this country is going need to change.
“It is enough to think that violence against women is a women’s issue just because they are the suffering population.
“Let us reverse this by recognising and acknowledging that violence against women is men’s issue as well as a national.
“The men of this country must take ownership of this before, we see change.
“There has always been a dark and blind spot in life that most men don’t often see.
“It is blind and dark in someone’s life because some men continually fail to see themselves upholding their responsibilities and be real in situations that are life threatening.”
Ms Kauhue added that men must get out of the habit of “all about me”,and must be the chief controller of their own feelings, as they do get angry unnecessarily protecting their self-interests.
“Jealousy is a mask of their own insecurity and if not dealt with effectively, this country will see more of this brutal killing even to the worst extreme of killing an own spouse as this recent case.
“Organizations responsible for peace building must also deal with emotions that are sometimes been displayedby men as these emotions are rooted in the human hearts, and often are covered up behind blindness, although they are sometimes obvious to others in the family and everyone else.”
She also called for the full enforcement of the Family Protection Act by the Government and responsible authorities to ensure that women and children are protected from all forms of discrimination and violence within the family and in the country which is alarmingly high at the moment.
“Children suffer a lot as in incidences like this, as there has been no Children’s Welfare Services in the country either run by the Government, Churches or NGO Service Providers to support the orphan’s needs and education in the future, hence creating another influx of unwanted social behaviour by our children and growing youth population which is now evident in the country.
“Regional and International Agencies must support programmes that are not only community oriented but more on supporting family units to ensure that there is sustenance of peace in Solomon Islands and harmony amongst individual families alike.
“Let us all stand together to combat violence against women and ensure peace in the homes.”
