BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
VOIS Blo Mere Solomon Islands (VBMSI) a local media organisation in the country has launched a first of its kind video documentation on “Breaking the culture of Silence” yesterday at the Mendana Kitano Hotel in Honiara.
This project is funded by the Australian Government and supported by United Nation Women through the Pacific fund on the project communicating Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG)
Speaking at the launching ceremony yesterday, director of (VBMSI) Mrs Josephine Teakeni says the project was established and implemented in response to calls from women in rural areas.
She said testimonies documented in the video are from brave Solomon Islands women who are survivors of violence.
Mrs Teakeni said the core value of the documentary is to help women who continue to live in violent relationships build confidence and make better choices after receiving relevant information.
“Their stories will influence other women who continue to live in violent relationships to make a choice after receiving relevant information as well as knowing where to get help in introducing to them the different services that available for them to access such as services.”
Ms Teakeni added, the information gap is huge and there are upcoming information and communication platforms that are available to access and use.
She said VBMSI has and will continue to respond to the call of women in Solomon Islands in a small way.
Alvina Soaki Erekali, UN Women Country Programme Coordinator, said the video documentation is an essential tool kit for women.
She adds that the video is an important awareness tool for everybody to respond, prevent and advocate violence against women and girls as well as survivors to know their rights.
“This video Documentation is an essential tool kit for stakeholders, victims and survivors of violence to look at and take comfort.
“It will also bring hope to women who are in violence to move forward and brings message to the perpetrators to see the wrongs of violence,” Mrs Erekali said.
