Msgr Simon Kassas, charge d'affaires at the Vatican's Permanent Mission, addressed the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) permanent council in Vienna on Thursday.

"The Holy See supports the principle that full and true equality between men and women is a fundamental aspect of a just and democratic society, and is convinced women need to be valued for all capacities that stem from their feminine genius", said Mgr Kassas.

"These efforts include guaranteeing a safe workplace for women in our own organisation, ensuring equal opportunity for women's participation in political and public life... and the facilitation of work practices to enable women and men to cope with the dual responsibilities of family and work."

The meeting was convened to review its 2004 action plan on the promotion of gender equality.

The 51-point plan recognises equal rights as "essential to peace, sustainable democracy, economic development and therefore to security and stability".

The plan also calls on participating states to "take all necessary measures to encourage gender-awareness raising" and "promote the practice of gender equality and gender-mainstreaming".

Msgr Kassas said the Vatican was "firmly committed" to advancing a "true and authentic equality between women and men," and welcomed efforts to prevent and combat violence against women and girls.

Kassas pointed out that the first step towards ensuring equality between men and women is "to recognise the importance of women's participation and engagement in all aspects of public, political, economic, social and cultural life".

He acknowledged some of the OSCE's key successes in promoting equality between men and women in 2021.

However, the Monsignor expressed concern about commitments made on behalf of the organisation by the Secretary-General, Helga Maria Schmid (pictured), without any mandate.

He suggested Schmid exceeded her powers by supporting a more controversial Generation Equality Forum convened in Mexico City and Paris in summer 2021. This forum condemned gender-based violence, defended feminist movements and advocated "bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights".

"All participating states rely on the impartiality and professionalism of the OSCE's executive structures, acting within their mandates", the Vatican delegate told the Vienna meeting.

"We are convinced there is ample room for the greater involvement of women, especially in the prevention of war, in reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of societies in post-war situations, and in work towards avoiding relapses to armed conflict.

"The constructive and important role that women can play, especially when referencing conflict-prevention and resolution, has been proven time and time again to be most valuable," Msgr Kassas concluded.

Sources

The Tablet

Vatican News

PC vice president Bishop Shane Mackinlay says he believes "in time we will look back on this as an extremely significant event in the life of the Church in Australia".

The initial failure of the motions about women deacons and opportunities for women was a "terrible look" for the Church, he says. "It was perceived as a rejection of the legitimate concerns women and men in the Church have had for so long."

John Warhurst, a church reform advocate calls it "an encouraging step forward from a group of men who wield ultimate power in the church and have resisted any effective recognition of ministries for women in the past".

"Now we have some hope that the Australian Church can move towards meeting the ideal of gender equality accepted in other parts of society."

While Catholic feminist Marilyn Hatton says she's delighted the Church sees it must improve gender equality, she's disappointed the motion on female deacons has been "watered down". "It would be much better if our bishops were on the front foot on this issue", she says.

Conversely, Maeve Louise Heaney from the Australian Catholic University says the revised motions are superior to the originals.

After two motions were redrafted, 18 of the 19 PC motions were passed.

How they voted

Women deacons

New opportunities for women

The equal dignity of women and men ... including "enhancing the role of women in the Church" and "overcoming assumptions, culture, practices and language that lead to inequality"

Hearing women's perspectives: Ensuring "the experiences and perspectives of women, including women who exercise ministry, are heard, considered and valued at local, diocesan and national levels"

Implementing documents: Previous Australian bishops' documents will be implemented "more fully"

New English Mass translation

Lectors, acolytes and catechists: Formation ministries to be promoted

Reviewing guidelines on preaching: "For lay people to participate in a formal ministry of Preaching in the Latin Church, as provided for in canon 766 of the Code of Canon Law."

Lay homilies: The assembly rejected a motion seeking "an amendment to canon 767 to permit ... those entrusted ... to in the Eucharistic assembly ..."

Catechesis on confession

General absolution

Youth ministry: "Ongoing support and strategies for those who minister to young people", the promotion of "the rich variety of spiritual and devotional traditions of the Church" and "synodal practices such as encounter, accompaniment, listening, dialogue, discernment and collaboration"

Strategic policies: to "Identify and support ministry and leadership formation"

Cooperation: to "Help develop formation programmes"

Working group on formation

Working group on Catholic social teaching

Five-year review: plus interim reports in 2023 and 2025 with final in 2027

Review of previous decrees: "To determine those whose validity may endure" following Vatican II and changes to Church law

Closing the council

Source

• Pillar
• Sydney Morning Herald

The petition asks the Bishops' Conferences of England and Wales and Scotland to reconsider their decision to use the gender-exclusive Bible at Mass.

So far over 150 people have signed the petition.

The bishops' controversial decision involves scrapping the Jerusalem Bible translation, which is currently heard at Masses in Britain, in favour of the English Standard Version (Catholic edition).

When the Bishops' Conference of Scotland announced they had decided to enact a similar change for the lectionary in Scotland, a who is a Senior Lecturer in Patristics at the University of Edinburgh, said the decision was disappointing.

"They really need to consider more carefully the pastoral impact of continuing to prevent Catholic women from recognising themselves as referred to in the words of Scripture in this way," Dr Sarah Parvis said.

"The US evangelical Protestant provenance of the ESV [English Standard Version] translation is also a concern."

In her introduction to the petition, instigator Bridget Kennedy says:

"The Bishops have chosen to exclude at least fifty percent of the ecclesial community. Their choice of Bible translation can but speak of an attitude that continues to judge women second class citizens in the Church.

"Language shapes thoughts and attitudes, and the impact of rendering Holy Scripture in this way is to deny the inclusion of female disciples of Jesus, not only in the language of the liturgy, but in the good news of salvation.

"At his election address, Pope Francis set a tone of inclusiveness when he greeted us together as ‘fratelli e sorelle' (brothers and sisters). The Bishops might have taken their lead from the Vicar of Christ.

"It was to mutual interdependence that Jesus entrusted a woman and a man as he died upon the cross.

"It was a woman Jesus commissioned first Apostle of the Resurrection. It was the stories of the women of faith that Jesus heard the men repeating as they made their way together to Emmaus. The Bishops might have taken their lead from Jesus.

"This issue has stirred within me ‘a fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones' (Jeremiah 20.9).

"My prayer is that you might join me in prayerfully encouraging the Bishops to open their hearts and minds to what the Spirit might be saying to the Church through the anger, disillusionment and disbelief of its faithful women."

Source

• The Tablet
• Image: The Tablet

Under the latest regulation in Bireuën district on Sumatra island, men and women will not be able to dine together at restaurants and coffee shops unless they are accompanied by their husband or a close male relative.

Co-workers on their lunch break will also be forbidden from sharing a meal.

"The objective is to protect women's dignity so they will feel more comfortable, more at ease, more well behaved and will not do anything that violates sharia (Islamic law)," the head of the local sharia office Jufliwan told AFP on Wednesday.

The directive was sent to coffee shops, cafes and restaurants throughout the region.

It also stated that women would not be allowed to visit such establishments past 9pm unless they are accompanied by a spouse or a male relative.

"However, we can't punish them as this is only a suggestion, not a regulation that carries a punishment," Jufliwan said.

It will be up to restaurateurs to enforce the regulation.

Three years ago the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, banned unaccompanied women from entertainment venues including cafes and sports halls after 11pm.

Sharia in Aceh has been controversial ever since it was first introduced shortly after the downfall of Soeharto in 1998.

Jakarta was struggling to cope with an armed insurgency in the province.

Aceh, a region of Sumatra island, is the only place that follows Islamic law in Muslim-majority Indonesia.

It has attracted worldwide condemnation for publicly lashing people convicted of a variety of crimes including homosexuality, gambling and alcohol consumption.

Source

• whatsnew2day.
• theguardian.com
• newsweek.com
• Image: nst.com screenshot

He says women must be included in decision-making and he has encouraged parishes to include more women in leadership roles, "especially in parish pastoral councils and finance committees".

Writing in the Fiji Times on International Women's Day, Chong said "I empathise and pray for women who are not able to enjoy these achievements.

"I speak on behalf of the Catholic social teaching and denounce societies, cultures and peoples that undermine the dignity and rights of women and particularly those that oppress women."

Chong said Fijian cultures (Itaukei, Hindu, Muslim, Chinese, Rotuman, Rabi etc.) should all promote the dignity of women and in some cases liberate women.

He noted that "most of our cultures and religions are patriarchal - dominated by men.

"Patriarchal society views men as the standard of human nature and that women are somehow different and inferior. A patriarchal society denies its people the contribution and wisdom of women."

Chong quoted Pope Francis, saying "A world where women are marginalised is a sterile world because women don't just bear life but transmit to us the ability to see otherwise, they see things differently."

He said the patriarchal view of women clashes with the biblical teaching that all human beings, male and female, are created in the image of God.

"As believers, we have to promote the biblical teachings on the equality of men and women and particularly affirm the dignity of women."

He said the biblical view of women "calls for a conversion in our religions, churches and cultures.

"We have to change the patriarchal views of society and recognise women as equally made in the image of God."

Source

• fijitimes.com
• Image: Facebook

This is in response to research conducted by the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre which suggests that 64 percent of Fijian women aged between 15 and 49 have experienced physical or sexual abuse meted out by their husbands or partners.

Break the Silence Sunday, an initiative of the Anglican church, was observed in Fiji's Methodist, Catholic, Baptist, Salvation Army, Orthodox churches and at some independent evangelical fellowships.

The message is also being carried on television.

On Sunday, Fiji's 6 pm news carried a 60-second video clip in which the leaders of these churches affirmed that male and female are created equal by God - and that violence against women and children "is a sin." Click here to watch the video.

The video will be rebroadcast during primetime news every night for the three weeks leading up to Human Rights Day on December 10.

And if viewers didn't get the message during the news hour, the video clip will then be re-screened four times later in the evening until December 10.

The video will also screen before every film showing in Suva's 10 Damodar movie theatres, in Lautoka's four theatres and in Nadi's two until December 10.

The proposal for Break the Silence Sunday originated from the Christian network Talanoa, an alliance of Fijian women's groups and churches convened by the House of Sarah - an organisation hosted by the Diocese of Polynesia that delivers a range of services designed to end violence against women and children.

In September last year, Archbishop Winston Halapua urged the various denominational leaders in the Fiji Council of Churches to observe their own "Break the Silence Sunday" - and he also proposed a video campaign.

He got 100 percent support for that too - and the Methodist Church of Fiji's Communication Department then set about producing the video and booking slots for it to be shown on TV and in the movie theatres.

While Break the Silence Sunday is a Fijian move, the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia also observed it in its Samoan, Tongan and American Samoan churches.

Source

• Anglican Taonga
• Fiji Times
• Image: YouTube

A supporter of same-gender marriage, Turnbull defended the right of a church to refuse to marry a young couple who had posted support for same-sex unions on social media.

He was speaking after a Presbyterian minister had told a young couple in their 20s that they would not be allowed to hold their ceremony at the church after the bride posted a message on Facebook supporting same-gender marriage.

Pressed on whether the couple were being penalised for doing what he had encouraged them to do he said: "Churches are entitled to marry or not marry whom they please. That is part of religious freedom."

Australia is in the midst of a non-compulsory, non-binding survey to inform Parliament whether or not it should legalise same-gender marriage.

Labour leader Bill Shorten has also issued a promise to voters, saying he had been "raised to be a person of faith" and would make sure their concerns would be treated with respect.

"Labour will not support legislation which ­impinges upon religious freedom in this country," he said.

But former liberal party prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott have called for the government to outline protections for religious freedoms before the postal vote.

"Freedom of conscience should not be an afterthought from people who claim they support freedom," Abbott said.

A number of church leaders and legal scholars have also joined in the call for the government to outline protections for religious freedoms ahead of the vote.

Advocates for change have drafted a bill that confirms the rights of ministers of religion to refuse to solemnise a same-gender marriage as well as the rights of ­religious organisations to refuse to provide services for wedding functions that breach their faith.

The lead proponent of this bill, Liberal senator Dean Smith, said those who considered these safeguards ­inadequate should offer "detailed legislative remedies" to address the issue.

Source

• Channel News Asia
• Straits Times
• The Australian
• MSN
• Image: MSN

It is the first time the women bishops, who have served in the Anglican Episcopate for various lengths of time ranging from less than 2 years to more than 23 years, have met together.

They met at The Abbey on Raymond Island, in the Diocese of Gippsland, Australia.

The bishops issued a communiqué which expresses their general concern "for the well-being of girls and women across the Anglican Communion and the opportunities for them to live into the fullness of their humanity."

They also affirmed the statement developed by the Anglican delegation to 61st Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women which calls (among other things) for "the God-given empowerment of all God's children."

The women bishops went on to say that they see "commitment to the effective inclusion of female voices in decision-making at all levels as vital for the world and the church.

The bishops attending the meeting were:

• The Rt Rev'd Genieve Blackwell, Bishop of the Marmingatha Episcopate, Diocese of Melbourne
• The Rt Rev'd Kay Goldsworthy, Bishop of Gippsland
• The Rt Rev'd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Waikato
• The Rt Rev'd Dr Sarah Macneil, Bishop of Grafton
• The Rt Rev'd Victoria Matthews, Bishop of Christchurch
• The Rt Rev'd Alison Taylor, Bishop for the Southern Region, Diocese of Brisbane
• The Rt Rev'd Kate Wilmot, Administrator, Diocese of Perth

Source

• anglicannews.org
• anglicantaonga.org.nz
• anglicantaonga.org.nz
• Image: anglicannews.org

"The ship has sailed. The horse has bolted," says Shelly Bridgeman in her opinion piece in the New Zealand Herald.

"So now it's up to the audience and the advertisers to show their disapproval."

"Potential viewers can do this by simply not watching it."

"Brands and retailers can do this by specifying that their television commercials do not appear during episodes of The Bachelor NZ."

"As a feminist, I find few things more torturous than watching The Bachelor," wrote Lizzie Marvelly, after watching an episode of The Bachelor NZ last year.

"Feminism is meant to give women choices, and one of those choices may well [bafflingly] be to take part in a reality television show that makes women compete for the ultimate prize of a man."

"The very premise makes my heart hurt: a group of women vying for the attention of a man for some sort of validation that can only be found on national TV,"

"It's the kind of idea that would have Kate Sheppard spinning in her grave."

Casting sessions were held to find the bachelorettes. As part of the selection process members of the public were invited to vote "yes" or "no" for a list of five prospective participants.

But there was no casting call for the Bachelor - instead the selection process in secrecy.

Last Friday Mediaworks announced that Zac Franich has been chosen as of The Bachelor NZ for 2017

The 28-year-old from the Hibiscus Coast works full time as the head coach at the Orewa Surf Life Saving Club.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• www.nzherald.co.nz
• newshub.co.nz
• www.newshub.co.nz
• Image: nzherald.co.nz

Mr 'Akilisi Pohiva said local women's groups would again be asked to carry out public consultations.

Tonga has been preparing to ratify the convention since 2015. Last year Pohiva said the Government was stepping back from ratification after opponents protested that it could open the way for same-sex marriage and abortion.

"We made it clear that some of the clauses in regards to CEDAW are well taken by government and there are a few we do not think that they are appropriate," Pohiva said.

"We cannot apply this provision in the case of Tonga. That is why we thought the most appropriate action to be taken is to send them back for review and for discussion."

In May 2016 the Catholic Women's League presented a petition to parliament.

Lady ‘Ainise Sevele, the Assistant President of Tonga's Catholic Women's League with the Vicar-General Monsignor Lutoviko Finau and other church members led the march of about 300 people.

At the time Lady Sevele said the petition had more than 2000 signatories, calling for the Government of Tonga not to ratify the United Nation's CEDAW convention for women.

The main reasons for their opposition is that they believe the convention, which seeks to eliminate discrimination against women, clashes with their Christian faith and does not concur with the fundamental values of Tonga's family life.

Tonga is one of only six UN members which haven't ratified CEDAW, including Iran, Sudan, Somalia and the USA.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• matangitonga.to
• Image: radionz.co.nz

He believes Samoa needs a bigger population.

So he is encouraging people to have more children to increase the population and among other things to provide "fast and strong boys for Manu Samoa."

He said he wonders who the idiot who came up with the idea of family planning.

"You know doctors; most of them have more children than most of us. There is that saying that goes like, 'Do as I say and not as I do'."

Tuilaepa says couples are prioritising their work rather than making babies to increase the population. He believes this should change.

"For example, if you married in your early twenties, then you should have at least ten children."

He said having many children has lots of benefits... "when you are old and crippled, at least you will have a lot of children to give you your cigarette and massage you."

Earlier this month, Tuilaepa also commented on this issue blaming the roles reversal in married couples.

He said because women now have better paid career jobs than men, the population of Samoa is growing slowly.

"The fact of the matter is that, most of the Universities graduates we have now are women. Therefore, they have better jobs and high salaries than men."

"This has resulted in women going to work while men stay at home and take care of the children."

The prime minister's comments have drawn some sharp responses.

Source

• samoaobserver.ws
• Image: radionz.co.nz

The Randstad Workmonitor report found that more than three-quarters of Kiwi workers believe their company has an open and inclusive culture, while 88% of companies value diversity in the workplace.

9% of Kiwi workers said they had been victims of religious discrimination, while 16% of Aussie workers said they had been subjected to it.

The number of Australians subjected to racial, gender or age discrimination in the workplace is higher than the global averages.

Researchers also found that New Zealand workplaces were supportive of gender equality.

Just 16% of Kiwi participants said they had been subjected to gender discrimination - a rate that is significantly lower than the global average of 21%. A quarter of Australian respondents said the same.

New Zealand was also found to be among the most tolerant when it came to having workforces consisting of employees from various racial backgrounds.

Just 10% of Kiwi workers said they had been subject to racial discrimination at work, compared to 20% in Australia - a statistic that is 3% higher than the global average.

"It's great to see New Zealand as a place that recognises diverse cultures, which can be attributed in no small part to the steady inflow of immigrants into New Zealand for more than two centuries," said Penni Hlaca, head of client solutions at Randstad New Zealand.

"The fact that Kiwis love to travel abroad and embrace new cultures, provides us with a competitive edge on the increasingly global employment landscape."

Hlaca added that the results were "simply a reflection of New Zealand culture".

"But the key is to not get complacent, and whilst we are stacking up well on a global scale for acceptance, we should continue to strive to set the benchmark as a country where nobody feels discriminated against," she said.

Source

• hcamag.com
• Image: hrc.co.nz

Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki, the director of the Women's and Children's Crisis Centre, stated in an interview with Radio New Zealand that there are plenty of people who do support the empowerment of women.

According to Guttenbeil Likiliki, 13 NGOs have come together under the Civil Society Forum to show their support for CEDAW.

She says that even though the group doesn't have the resources of local churches which have mobilised against CEDAW, representatives from these NGOs will sign the petition.

Two MPs, Fe'ao Vakata the Minister of Internal Affairs, and Semisi Sika, had signed the petition.

Guttenbeil Likiliki says the petition letter, addressed to the speaker Lord Tu'ivakano, states CEDAW will not undermine Tongan attitudes to abortion and same sex marriage.

She says these two issues are not spelled out in CEDAW nor are they hidden within some other clauses of the convention as has been claimed by its opponents.

Source

• radionewzealand.co.nz
• nepituno.to
• Image: nepituno.to

In an interview on Radio Australia Father Seluini Akauola said opposition to ratifying CEDAW is very strong.

Akauola said the suggestion that there should be a referendum is a "diversion from having to talk about the issues."

He said he saw little point in having a referendum because "all you need to do is to look at the petitions the people are making."

"It is going to be a very expensive exercise and there is no need for the country to waste its energy on this."

Akauola denied accusations made on social media calling into question the credibility of petitions made to the Government and to the King in recent weeks.

He said he had not heard anything to suggest the church was threatening to excommunicate those who did not sign the petitions, as had been suggested on the social media.

The church groups are opposing the ratification of CEDAW because they believe it will open the way to the legalisation of abortion and same gender marriage.

Tonga's Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva believes there will be a referendum and he will be discussing it with the cabinet.

However the prime minister says the exercise will cost time and money.

Tonga currently has no legislation to allow referenda.

The acting Attorney General says there would need to be new legislation and resources for such an exercise.

Source

• radioaustralia.net.au
• radionewzealand.co.nz
• Image: images.tvnz.co.nz

Parliament opens 28 May. The government announced to the UN in March this year that it intended to ratify CEDAW.

The main reasons for their opposition is that they believe that the convention, which seeks to eliminate discrimination against women, clashes with their Christian faith and does not concur with the fundamental values of Tonga's family life.

Lady ‘Ainise Sevele, the Assistant President of Tonga's Catholic Women's League with the Vicar-General Monsignor Lutoviko Finau and other church members led the march of about 300 people. Lady Sevele said the petition had more than 2000 signatories.

The government has faced mounting pressure since announcing it would ratify CEDAW.

Three separate christian groups have submitted petitions to parliament objecting to the ratification process with many worried it would open the door for same sex marriage and abortion.

MP Samiu Vaipulu is putting forward a parliamentary resolution asking the Tongan government to stop going ahead with the ratification.

Vaipulu says the people have done all they can and now the issue is between parliament and the government.

Source

• Matangitonga
• Radio New Zealand
• Image: Matangitonga

Mafi says all forms of discrimination against women are already clear enough in Tonga's laws and are forbidden in Christian churches.

He says the reason the church does not approve of the conventionis that some of the clauses in it are in conflict with the church's beliefs, like abortion and same sex marriage.

Mafi says the nation's motto "God and Tonga are my inheritance" highlight the fact that God is first.

And so everything has to go accordingly with God's plans and not what the United Nations wants, he says.

The Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva says the decision to ratify was arrived at only after thorough discussions and consultations with the community and church leaders as some of the provisions of CEDAW are clearly in conflict with Tonga's Constitution and laws.

He says the decision to ratify was made on the very clear understanding that the Government's ratification will be with reservations in respect of those provisions that are incompatible with local laws.

In effect, this means that Tonga is prepared to apply the provisions of the Convention nationally, on the condition that it does not conflict with the provisions of the Constitution and laws of Tonga regarding succession to the throne and nobility, abortion and same sex marriage.

Mr Pohiva says the duration of the reservations will be unlimited.

The UN has tentatively welcomed the move.

However the Officer in Charge of the Regional UN Human Rights Office for the Pacific, Satya Jennings, insisted that once Tonga has undergone the actual ratification process, it should bring national legislation in line with "international standards".

Source

• Radio New Zealand
• Radio New Zealand
• Radio New Zealand
• Image: image.slidesharecdn.com

There were at least four faifekau in the room. One of them shouted, "You women should know your place!"

The roundtable meeting was called to discuss the Tonga's ratification of CEDAW. [The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women].

It was made up of relevant stakeholders from the community.

Vanessa Heleta who runs the Talitha Project for the development of young women said, "They are using the bible to say the male is the head of the family and they say to us don't be selfish, women are under men - just be content where you are."

"They all know it is unfair. When they say there is no need to address the gaps…I feel disgusted - absolutely disgusted," she said.

Tuna Aleamotu'a, Technical Advisor to Tonga's oldest women's organisation the Langafonua-‘a-Fafine Tonga, said "I don't have a place, where is our place? It's everywhere. There is no place."

"In a good loving home you don't need to define a place to know where you are."

"When the faifekau says women should know their place - it's the faifekau who should know his place."

"His place is to be humble and know his people. There are many women-headed households in Tonga - just see the census," she said.

"But in my life, in our culture, I'm the head of the people who are dependent on me, somebody has to lead, so that we can survive."

"But with my leadership I have to look at each one and cater for their shortcomings."

"It's difficult but it doesn't mean that you lead and dominate, it doesn't mean that nobody speaks and suggests anything."

Only seven countries, including Tonga have not signed CEDA.

The other countries include Iran, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia - four nations known for their human rights violations.

The other two countries are Palau and the USA, which is regarded as "the only democracy that has not ratified the convention "- although internally President Carter signed CEDAW at its outset and President Obama has also committed wholeheartedly to it.

Source

• Matangi Tonga
• Image: pbs.twimg.com

While women are rapidly closing the gender gap with men in areas such as health and education, inequality at work is not expected to be erased until 2095, according to a report published by the World Economic Forum, AAP reports.

The organisation said the worldwide gender gap in the workplace had only narrowly closed in the past nine years, from 56 percent in 2006 to 60 percent this year. Continue reading

The Church of Melanesia's Christian Care Centre's director, Sister Doreen Awaiasi, says she is having to turn people away as the centre is at full capacity.

Sister Doreen says awareness campaigns against gender-based violence are starting to make headway and the new Family Protection Act makes domestic violence a crime.

She says that she thinks domestic violence is increasing, " in other places where the services are not available for them, they are not talking."

"This is only one particular place in Honiara. We also have referrals from all over Solomon Islands, but then the safe home is situated in in Honiara."

Sister Doreen thinks the Family Protection Act is helping.

"I think we have listened to the voices of our women and children, this is why we have lobbied the government, other Solomon Islands women too, behind pushing the Family Bill so that the parliament would say yes to what we wanted."

In the 36 years since Independence the have been only 2 female members of Parliament.

An Associate Professor at the University of Hawaii Tarcisius Tara Kabutaulaka says culture has always been seen as the major barrier for aspiring female politicians.

However, he says perceptions are changing and the biggest challenge for any candidate today is financial.

"I mean if it takes a million dollars to campaign that eliminates a lot of us, me included, we can't afford that and a lot of women can't afford that. And so it is cultural but it is also practical things in the campaign process," he says

Source

• Radio New Zealand International
• Radio New Zealand
• Image: globaleducation.edu.au