24 Nov 2006

Secretariat of Pacific Community speaks out against violence against women

12:03 pm on 24 November 2006

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community has thrown its support behind the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women tomorrow.

SPC joins a wide range of Pacific organisations in marking this day, on which men and women all over the world wear white ribbons to show their opposition to gender violence.

The SPC's Director General Jimmie Rodgers says men have a crucial role to play in stopping violence against women.

He says while many men know that hitting women or abusing them verbally or

emotionally is wrong they remain silent in the face of other men's violence.

Mr Rodgers says violence impoverishes Pacific Island societies, consumes government resources and hinders development.

This Saturday also marks the start of an annual world-wide campaign called

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, which encompasses World AIDS Day on December 1 and ends on December 10, International Human Rights Day.