60% of Pacific women ‘victims of violence’
At least 60 per cent of women in the Pacific had been at one time a victim of violence. This was revealed by Deputy Director-General for the Pacific Community Audrey Aumua at the Regional Consultation on Gender and Law, Implementation of Domestic Violence Legislation, hosted by the Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) at the Novotel Conference Room in Nadi on Tuesday.
She believes it is vital to recognise that women in the Pacific were under-represented in parliaments.
“It is also important to be aware of the other number of indicators that point to the fact that our journey to gender-equality is still very challenged in the region,” Ms Aumua said.
“One indicator I am always interested in is that women continue to be under-represented in Pacific parliaments.
“Twenty-three per cent of the seats in this region are held by women and I think we have the lowest representation in the entire world. Our statistics continue to show that 60 per cent of women in the Pacific had been at one time a victim of violence.”
Ms Aumua said the statistics showed that women were not fully engaged as equal partners in their life and relationship, but also in their communities.
She said SPC recognised moves to end violence against women in the Pacific. “Our leaders have also recognised this as a priority of ending domestic violence in the region,” Ms Aumua said.