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Violence against women in pacific undermines region, says aid agencyLevels of violence against women in parts of the Pacific are “horrific” and must be addressed if development is to have any chance in the Pacific region, said an Australian aid agency head today.
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- Violence against women in Melanesia and East Timor
Building on Global and Regional Promising Approaches - Solomon Islands Family Healthand Safety Study:A study on violence against women and children
Prepared by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community for Ministry of Women, Youth and Children's Affairs - Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the Solomon Islands:
A report focusing on the presence of the logging industry in a remote region, by Tania Herbert of the Christian Care Centre, Church of Melanesia
The challenge
High sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates reported in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are similar to those found in African and Asian countries with high HIV infection rates. Rising STI rates are a warning sign of a looming AIDS epidemic.
The high level of domestic violence - the 3rd worst in the world - and forced sex are signficant contirbutors to HIV infection.
A 2006 World Health Organisation (WHO) study of STI infections in both Honiara and Port Villa (the two nations’ capitals) found 16% of pregnant women to be suffering from Chlamydia or Syphilis. In total 60% reported having had multiple partners in the past 12 months.
Another 2006 study, conducted by Save the Children, assessed HIV risk factors amongst young people, sex workers and men who have sex with men. Six hundred young people both in and out of school were surveyed. Of these 28% of females between the ages of 11 and 22 reported that they had sold sex for money in the last year.
The study also shows that sex work is occurring outside of main towns, that both males and females are involved, that the number of partners ranges from 4-8 a week and that the use of condoms is both low and inconsistent.
Both countries share other common HIV risk factors. The low status of women makes it hard for them to assert themselves in reproductive health matters. Cultural and religious attitudes discourage people from discussing sexual practices or prevention approaches. Feedback from Church workers shows that approximately 90% of rural people in the Solomon Islands have little or no knowledge of HIV and AIDS.
The behaviours and attitudes currently seen in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are similar to those seen in neighbouring Papua New Guinea (PNG) a decade ago. Tourism and industries such as mining, construction and logging are bringing international workers and outsiders into the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Islanders are increasingly travelling abroad for work and education. PNG now has an official HIV infection rate of 2%, or 64,000 HIV positive people. Official HIV and AIDS infection rates are currently low across Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. With appropriate remedial action to improve knowledge and understanding of transmission causes and prevention Solomon Islands and Vanuatu can potentially avert a national disaster.
Our united response
With Anglicord support, the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) has been building an HIV and AIDS response since 2008. The program aims to:
- Increase awareness amongst at risk groups regarding the causes of transmission and prevention of HIV.
- Reduce risk behaviour leading to the spread of the virus within the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
A major component of the response is the development of an HIV awareness program for ACOM schools across Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Another important element is sensitising clergy, Diocesan program staff, religious orders and workers in the women’s and youth departments in the outer islands to the risks and issues, and developing their capacity to integrate HIV and AIDS awareness into their programs – at the provincial level.
Based on learnings from visits to both South Africa and PNG the underlying principles for this program are to:
- Integrate prevention, treatment, care and support strategies wherever possible.
- Develop a community-based HIV and AIDS program.
- Ensure that there is gender equality in all aspects of the program.
- Focus on minimising the impact of HIV infection and address broader issues, including family violence, the sexual exploitation of children, alternative employment options for sex workers and other high-risk groups.
- Ensure that each strategy is consistent with the Solomon Islands National HIV and AIDS Policy as well as Vanuatu’s Policy and Strategic Plan for HIV, AIDS and STIs 2003-2007.
Program progress
"Friendly" outreach lunches with urban sex workers, the provision of alternative livelihood schools to sex workers, and the collaborative approach to prevention behaviour in communities affected by logging are some of the innovative and effective initiatives being carried out under this project.
Since the project’s inception, the Government of Solomon Islands has now introduced a formal HIV and AIDS curriculum for all schools. Project funds allocated to education in schools’ activities can now be redirected to other program priorities, specifically strategies to address high risk groups including taxi drivers, seafarers, loggers, mining workers and construction workers.
The project will now emphasise outreach into remote areas where knowledge about HIV and AIDS is low but Church networks and infrastructure are strong. Islands such as Ysabel and Makaira are priorities because of the concentration of high risk groups.
At a glance
| Project partner: | Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) |
| Location: |
Solomon Islands and Vanuatu |
| Target populations: | Approximately 300,000 |
| Partnership began: |
2004 |
| Start date (current phase): | September 2008 |
| Anglicord target (2011/12): | $ 13,570 |
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