BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO
VIOLENCE against women and girls in all its forms is a key obstacle to the sustainable development of Solomon Islands and most horrific human rights violation, says Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs.
Thompson Araia, women development division training co-ordinator,Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs, echoed the above sentiment on behalf of the ministry.
“Violence against women and girls in all its forms is one pf the most horrific human rights violations that not only affects women and girls in Solomon Islands but also our families, societies and our nation. It is a key obstacle to the sustainable development of Solomon Islands,” Araia said.
He said according to the study commissioned by the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs – the 2019 Community Health and Mobility in the Pacific report provided the much-needed evidence that human rights violations are strongly linked to the presence of logging operations in Isabel province.
Araia said the human right violations ranging form sex work, increased rates of gender-based violence, early and forced marriage and sexual exploitation.
He said with the launch of the Gender Responsive Peacebuilding in Extractive Industries in Isabel province projects marks a significant progress in the Solomon Islands governments commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Araia said the Ministry sincerely thanked and commend UN Agency International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations Fund (UNFPA), UN Women through UN peacebuilding fund for support to government in promoting human rights and women empowerment.
