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 (25 November 2009) 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.

New Caledonia

In New Caledonia, site of SPC’s headquarters, the organisation is collaborating with the government to prepare the local events. The focus there is on male advocacy to end violence against women. Two regional male activists have been invited to speak about their experiences to SPC staff and to participants at events around New Caledonia.

Usaia Hemaloto from Tonga and Tevita Seruilumi from Fiji Islands will talk about their advocacy work with other men to end violence against women. Among others they will address New Caledonia’s customary senate, an all-male body that advises the New Caledonian government on customary issues from an indigenous Kanak perspective.

Federated States of Micronesia

At SPC’s northern Pacific office in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the organisation is joining forces with the police and the national government, as well as NGOs and faith-based organisations. The focus in FSM is on domestic violence. Planned events include interactive activities on ending domestic violence designed for students, as well as meetings and workshops involving churches, traditional and political leaders, police, and women’s, men’s, and youth groups.

Solomon Islands

In Solomon Islands, SPC is part of the national White Ribbon Campaign Committee which is coordinating activities for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence that begin on 25 November*. Activities are planned daily for the duration of the campaign. They will begin with a march through the centre of town on 25 November followed by a candlelight vigil at the National Art Gallery. Other activities include drama, presentations, seminars including a workshop on engaging men and boys in ending violence against women, church programmes and radio call-in programmes. Participants will include government, health and social services, police, church, media, NGO and international development agency representatives. Activities will take place both in Honiara and in the outer provinces.

*for information on the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence please see ‘background information’ below.

Kiribati
In Kiribati, SPC’s Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) is part of the Kiribati White Ribbon Day Committee. RRRT will run a four-day workshop on ‘Advancing legislative reform on violence against women’ as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence. Participants will include government, NGO and international development agency representatives. The White Ribbon Day Committee will also organise two candlelight marches during the 16 Days campaign.

Background information

White Ribbon Day and 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence

White Ribbon Day was initiated by a group of Canadian men in 1991 on the second anniversary of the massacre of 14 women by one man in Montreal. They began the White Ribbon campaign to urge men to speak out against violence against women.

In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and invited governments, international organisations and community organisations to organise activities on that day to raise awareness of the issue. The white ribbon was adopted as the day’s symbol.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence campaign originated in 1991 at the Center for Women’s Global Leadership based at Rutgers University in the USA. The campaign runs from 25 November to 10 December. During this period, activities highlighting the problem of violence against women are organised daily.

Other international days observed during the 16 Days campaign include World AIDS Day (1 December), International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (2 December), International Day of Disabled Persons (3 December) and Human Rights Day (10 December).

For more information please contact Tione Chinula, SPC Human Development Programme Advocacy and Communications Officer, tel: +687 26 01 57 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Bindi Borg, Human Development Officer, tel +687 26 54 70 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .