IT WAS globally recorded that between 15 and 76 percent of women are targeted for either physical or sexual in their lifetime.
Correspondingly, up to 50 percent of sexual assaults are committed against girls under the age of 16.
It is evident and most probably aware that most of this violence takes place in intimate relationships and that many women report their husband or partners as the perpetrators.
Country Director of Oxfam, Ms Abi Akinyemi said this during the official launch of the Oxfam EVAW Report which also concluded a three-day workshop on violence against women on Thursday, in Honiara.
She said that Pacific region has come up with some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world.
“In at least six Pacific countries, 60 percent or more of women reported physical and sexual violence by a partner or a non-partner.
“In Solomon Islands, nearly two of every three women aged 15 – 49 from their current or former partners, 37 percent had been sexually abused before the age of 15.
“However, when violence was experienced it was more likely to be severe and around 18 percent of women had experienced non-partner violence,” Ms Akinyemi.
Adding that these statistics are daunting and not only because of the sheer numbers, but this is because behind every statistic lies a face.
the face of a poor woman, a rich woman, a formally educated woman, a woman who cannot read or write, a farmer, a judge, a housewife, woman living with disability, a doctor or maybe a girl child.
She said that “looking for such women, they might be your daughters, mothers, sisters, niece or someone who is close to you”.
“For Oxfam, addressing gender equality and women’s rights to end Violence Against Women and Girls (VAW&G) is just the one we do. Thus it is at the heart of everything we do. We aim to reach the most marginalised, the poorest and the most vulnerable.
“Our work in the Pacific is fundamentally about challenging and hopefully changing unhelpful attitudes and beliefs that help to enable (VAW&G).
“We work in partnership with different types of stakeholders at the community, provincial and national levels, the civil society, government departments, local community structure and with immense support from DFAT.
“With the support from DFAT in partnership with multiple partners from national to local levels our work in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands helped to increase survivors of violence access to support services.
“To improve legislation and government investment, influence attitudes and beliefs about gender roles and norms and increase people’s knowledge of rights and gender equality,” Ms Akinyemi said.
She stated that over 10,000 survivors of violence were provided with direct support, several thousands more directly benefited from community outreach work and over 80,000 including men and boys were exposed to awareness raising and attitude changing messages.
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