The primates and general secretaries of the Anglican Church in Australia, the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea, the Anglican Church of Melanesia, and the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand, and Polynesia made the commitments in a communiqué following their recent regional meeting in Fiji.

As part of its commitment to tackling climate change, the church leaders:

• Encourage investment into sustainable energy as a valid option for investment funds
• Encourage their various trust boards "to consider restructuring their investments to maximise returns from such innovative ideas
• Ask Anglican schools in the region's four provinces to integrate "climate change topics into the current curricula."

On gender-based violence they:

• Welcomed the work of The House of Sarah - an initiative of the Diocese of Polynesia, which works to end violence against women and children
• Encouraged and supported the zero tolerance for violence policy as promoted by the House of Sarah
• Encouraged all provinces to adopt and implement the Anglican Consultative Council's (ACC) Safe Church Charter
• Committed themselves to review and respond to the guidelines coming from the International Safe Church Commission,

This is the second time in two years that the Anglican leaders in the Oceania region have met in this way.

They will meet again in Melanesia next year, and in Papua New Guinea in 2020.

They were joined at this year's meeting by an Anglican Communion delegation led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

Source

• anglicannews.org
• Image: anglicannews.org

O'Neill said the old mentality and belief in sorcery was affecting the nation in rural and urban areas.

He said the most affected were always women and girls.

O'Neill called on churches to lead in driving awareness in the villages because the government could not go there. He said the elimination of gender-based violence (GBV) and sorcery accusations needed the help of the churches.

"Our churches must identify solutions and address these social issues in our villages and communities, and address it through mission and the word of God," he said.

"The church has an important role to play among our population by influencing people's behaviour."

O'Neill acknowledged church workers in rural areas but said the issues were affecting people.

He said the government was ready to work with churches to address sorcery and gender-based violence.

The prime minister was speaking at Mogl Kagai village in Sinasina-Yongomulg, Chimbu, on the first day of the 31st synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG.

The church's Bishop Rev Jack Urame said they were ready to work with the government to address issues that were affecting people in rural areas.

Two high-profile sorcery related attacks in January have highlighted how Papua New Guinea's problem with belief in sorcery is spiralling out of control.

The first attack was on the country's Chief Justice in his Highlands province.

In the second attack, villagers in Port Moresby attacked a man who they claimed had used sorcery to cause the death Kato Ottio, a former Canterbury Raiders player just days before flying out for a chance to make his first-grade rugby league debut in England's Super League.

It's believed Ottio was training with players from Queensland Cup side Papua New Guinea Hunters when he collapsed after a long running session.

He was taken to hospital but fell into a coma and never recovered.

Source

• The National
• RNZ
• Social Concerns
• Image: 4.bp.blog.spot

Roar4PNG is an organisation devoted to preventing and healing sexual and domestic violence.

This organisation wants to build a women's refuge in Kokopo, capital of East New Britain in Papua New Guinea, where Finn served for 18 months with Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA).

"I might not be able to change the world, but I can at least get the conversation going about how we are all connected and can do small things," says Finn.

On Wednesday Challenge 2000 welcomed him at his long-time whanau's new home in Johnsonville to hear stories about his journey so far and to raise money for this project.

A rousing haka greeted him as he arrived at Challenge 2000 to share food and stories.

Click here for more pictures.

When Finn spoke about his journey, he was inspirational. "I have found my time on the walk mentally and physically very taxing at first."

He said he had discovered tiny leg muscles he never knew he had until they wouldn't let him move the way he liked.

"One day early on I walked 35km and then couldn't stand up - putting up a tent while sitting down is very challenging."

"But spiritually it has been very enlightening, and I have embraced a Maori proverb I saw somewhere on my journey, ‘In the footstep, there is thought.'"

The money Finn raises by his efforts will go towards the NZ$400,000 start-up cost of the women's refuge.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Rabaul is providing the land for the refuge to be built on. It is also meeting the costs for on-going maintenance and care packages for the women.

Finn spoke of the people of Papua New Guinea and how this refuge would provide real support for many women and children.

He said this is what keeps him motivated on his journey towards completing the Te Araroa Trail by Christmas and which he views with a good portion of realism and hope.

"Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi Engari, he toa takitini / Success is not the work of one, but the work of many."

If you would like to support or donate to this cause, please contact Kitty at challenge2000@xtra.co.nz or visit Finn's crowdfunding page 2000Miles for PNG Women on givealittle.

Challenge 2000 is a youth and family development agency based in Johnsonville, Wellington, New Zealand.

Source

• Supplied Clarissa Fitzgerald
• Image: Supplied Challenge 2000

"This cannot happen without the leadership of government and other local stakeholders, including community and religious leaders, alongside women and men at all levels of society."

These are some of the conclusions contained in a report from a United Nation Human Rights delegation that has just completed a visit to Samoa.

The delegation concluded that while huge strides had been made in tackling the issue of gender-based violence, much more still needs to be done to tackle deeply rooted gender discrimination.

Kamala Chandrakirana, who currently heads the UN Working Group on discrimination against women, says Samoa is only at the beginning of a long journey.

Samoan authorities have acknowledged the problem since a 2007 study on domestic violence found 46 percent of women surveyed had experienced some form of partner abuse and 60 percent been physically abused by someone other than a partner.

Data from the Domestic Violence Unit of the Ministry of Police shows between the years of 2007-2015 there was an increase of reported domestic violence of female victims between the ages of 17 and 33.

The increase refers only to cases reported to Police headquarters in Apia. It does not include cases reported to police outposts.

At the end of last year Samoa's prime minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi set up a commission to inquire into domestic violence

Its chairman, Samoa's ombudsman Maiava Iulai Toma, said during the consultations he came to realise that traditional institutions, such as the matai system, which is influential in regulating behaviour in villages, should be engaged.

"But then of course we have to really look at these institutions to see that they can truly provide solutions and that they're not a significant part of the problem," he said.

The UN delegation:

• Found many Samoans had been profoundly shocked by a recent government report revealing the scale of gender-based violence.
• Concluded addressing the root causes of violence against women would require a major shift in cultural perceptions about women and their place in society.

The delegation urged new policies including:

• A state-sponsored social welfare system
• Full support for women and girls who had suffered sexual or physical violence
• Better funding for the civil society groups that are already making an immense contribution despite limited resources.

The delegation carried out its fact-finding visit from 8 to 18 August.

It had been invited by the Samoan government to look into the current situation of women's human rights in the country.

Source

• UNOG
• Pacific Scoop
• RNZ
• RNZ
• RNZ
• Voice of America
• Samoa Observer
• Image: UNDP

A total of 10823 cases of domestic violence have been reported to the Fiji Women's Crisis Centres across the country from January to October this year.

On Sunday churches marked "On Break the Silence Sunday", FCC member churches focused their attention on these issues through liturgy prayers, scripture readings and sermons.

"It is important that we not only address the sin of gender-based violence and child abuse within our church community, but as faith leaders we speak with one voice in condemning it and calling for our communities and homes to be safe," Fiji Council of Churches president Reverend Tevita Banivanua said.

Head of the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia Archbishop Reverend Dr Winston Halapua shared similar sentiments and outlined the importance of the initiative. "What a privilege it is to be a part of this initiative which is what I call a deeper level of life."

This FCC campaign also includes, for the first time, a commercial for television and cinema that features church leaders speaking out against gender-based-violence and violence against children.

This year's theme is "From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World - Make Education Safe for All". The theme recognises that girls and young women in most societies still face severe challenge of accessing education.

In the pursuit of gaining an education, girls and women are still vulnerable to discriminatory practices, abuse, attacks and harassment.

The campaign spans 16 Days in order to highlight the links between ending gender-based violence and human rights values and that gender based violence is an international human rights violation.
Source

• fijitimes.com
• fijione.tv
• fijitimes.com
• angmissions.org.nz
• Image: fijione.tv

The With and For Girls Awards is a global initiative to identify and support strong local organisations working with and for girls. As part of the award package, SVSG will receive US$50,000 of flexible funding and capacity building support.

The charity - based in Apia, Samoa - is recognised for its work with survivors of violence and sexual abuse in Samoa, providing shelters and support for women and girls, in addition to educating community members on violence prevention. Continue reading

This follows on efforts for the same cause by Samoa rugby.

Last Sunday, the four churches joined activists, governments officials and private sector representatives to highlight issues relevant to end violence against women and girls in Samoa.

Participating churches included: Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral, Baha'i House of Worship, All Saints Anglican Church and the Apia Harvest Centre Church.

All services were well attended with some members of the congregations wearing orange or sporting "Strong Hands Stop Violence" buttons.

Father Falaniko Matulino, of Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral, addressing the large audience said, "We pray for our women and children as we celebrate Orange Day."

"A day for awareness of ending violence against women and girls. Churches all around Samoa join us in prayer today."

As one worshipper stated, "These issues affect many families in Samoa. It is good to see so many different denominations participating to raise awareness."

"I hope the discussion started here is continued at home by families during to'onai (Sunday dinner)."

Momentum is being gained in the fight against gender-based violence in Samoa.

The 25th day of every month celebrated as ‘Orange Day' more and more Samoans are getting behind the campaign.

Orange day is an opportunity to raise awareness about gender based violence and show solidarity with the movement to End Violence against Women and Girls.

In July rugby players supported the initiative through a partnership between the Samoa Rugby Union and U.N. women.

They they dedicated the Samoa vs. Tonga match to ending gender based violence.

Both teams wore Orange arm bands in support of the cause; players from the Manu Samoa team were also involved in an E.V.A.W. (Ending Violence against Women) video.

"There is no place in our sport or our communities for violence against women," said Manu Samoa Head Coach, Namulauulu Alama Ieremia.

"We have a responsibility as Samoans to be role models and rugby gives us a platform to influence and help as many people as we can."

Source

• sobserver.ws
• sobserver.ws
• Image: sobserver.ws