He noted that Solomon Islands continues to record some of the highest rates of violence against women globally, with recent data ranking the country second highest in the world for domestic violence.
The Prime Minister said this is not a statistic the country can accept and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening national efforts to address the issue.
He highlighted ongoing work to expand the SAFENET referral system to the remaining provincial frontiers and legislative efforts toward Temporary Special Measures aimed at increasing women’s representation in provincial leadership.
Prime Minister Manele also acknowledged the contribution of development partners supporting programmes that protect women and children.
These include the Solomon Islands–Australia Community Partnerships programme, which is currently supporting more than 100 community projects across the provinces, the UN Women Markets for Change programme working to improve safety in marketplaces, and ongoing collaboration with UNICEF to support children affected by domestic violence.
The Prime Minister also encouraged men and boys across the country to play their role in building safer families and communities.
“Respect for your wife and your daughters is not a sign of weakness; it is the foundation of a strong family and a strong Solomon Islands,” Prime Minister Manele said.
He said real transformation must begin at home and called on all Solomon Islanders to stand together to protect and empower the women of the country.
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Prime Minister’s Press Secretariat
