MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
Violence against women anywhere is unacceptable, the Parliamentary Secretary
for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Chris Gallus, said today, announcing further
Australian support for women in the Pacific.
Australia will contribute $3.4 million over 5 years to a domestic violence
program and up to $1 million for the construction of a new Fiji Women's
Crisis Centre in the capital, Suva.
'Although recent indicators suggest a decrease in community tolerance of
violence against women, domestic violence is still a significant obstacle to
women being treated as equals,' Mrs Gallus said.
'This further assistance aims to maintain essential counselling, support
and legal services to women in Fiji and to help newly established crisis
agencies in the Pacific.
'The support will also contribute to improvements in policy and
legislation relating to gender-based violence.
'Australia has funded the Centre since 1991 and supported programs to
help victims of violence and to change attitudes in Fiji and throughout the
Pacific.
'More than 22,000 people have taken part in community education
activities during the last four years, with the number of male participants
increasing from 15 to 40 per cent.
'While most Pacific countries are signatories to the UN Convention to
eliminate discrimination against women, few have the resources to follow
through,' Mrs Gallus said.
The Australian Government, through its aid agency AusAID, is also supporting
domestic violence programs in Vanuatu, Tonga and PNG, and is contributing about
$55 million in 2003-04 to tackle gender inequalities in the region.
Media inquiries:
Shane Fairlie (Mrs Gallus' office) 02 6277 4840 or 0408 680 442
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489