A total of 64 per cent of women in Solomon Islands have suffered sexual or physical violence, or both, from an intimate partner. About 97 per cent of Solomon Islanders are Christian, so the Bible is a potentially powerful tool to help show Solomon Islander men how to respect women.
Through the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development program (Pacific Women), Australia is supporting this approach to reduce gender-based violence in 30 communities across two provinces in Solomon Islands. Through two million dollars over five years (2013-2017), we are supporting World Vision's Channels of Hope for Gender (CoHG) program, which explores what the Bible says about relations between women and men.
'Faith plays a really big part in Solomon culture; especially faith leaders are seen as influential people in most communities,'said Ms Koisau Sade, World Vision Gender Coordinator. 'CoHG is challenging the traditional norms of gender that faith leaders have, and [it demonstrates] how we should value male and female equally.'
Equipped with a fresh perspective on their faith and domestic violence, religious leaders have begun to run their own training programs for their congregations.
One man explained how, in 2012, he attended a CoHG workshop that changed his thinking, attitude and view of life. 'I was a violent person to my wife, my children, my neighbourhood and my community,' he said. 'Now I treat my wife equally and appreciate her as an individual, a wife, and there is mutual trust and love in our marriage. My children do not have fear and distrust in me anymore and we now have an open relationship and love for each other. The environment in our home is more loving and friendly, with positive words spoken to each other. After 23 years of marriage, now my wife and my children are experiencing a truly happy life.'
A 2015 evaluation of the project documented the changes in community members' and church leaders' attitudes. For instance, the percentage of women who believed that 'women should not make decisions' fell from 34 per cent to 4 per cent. Overall, CoHG has played an important part in working towards reducing violence against women in Solomon Island communities involved in the project.
More information
- DFAT supports 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 25 November – 10 December 2015
- Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development
- Overview of Australia's aid program to Solomon Islands
