Pacific countries will only fully achieve the development goals discussed at this week’s Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ meeting if they address one of the gravest human rights violations in the region – violence against women, Amnesty International said today. Rates of violence against women in a number of Pacific Island countries are among the highest in the world.

“Without ending violence against women, we cannot fully achieve the goals of the Pacific Plan or the Millennium Development Goals,” said Amnesty International’s Pacific Researcher Apolosi Bose, speaking from Cairns.

According to AusAID, violence against women hampers development in a number of Pacific Island countries, affecting not only the health and welfare of the women experiencing violence, but their families, communities and country. For example, violence is a contributing factor to the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS in the region.

Most Pacific Island countries do not even have stand-alone legislation combating gender-based violence. Some, such as Vanuatu, PNG, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Fiji, have passed or amended laws that make some inroads into protecting women’s rights, but these do not go far enough.

“Governments need to take proactive measures to protect women’s rights by preventing, prohibiting and prosecuting violence against women,” said Apolosi Bose.

“Leaders meeting here this week have a unique opportunity. They can decide to live up to their international obligations and, on return to their home countries, set in place the legal and other measures to eliminate violence against women. It will take political will, and it will take leadership with vision and foresight.”

Progress has been made over the last 10 years. Nearly all Pacific Island countries have now ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Additionally, some Pacific Island leaders, including the Prime Minister of PNG, Sir Michael Somare, and the President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, have publicly acknowledged the extent and severity of the problem in their respective countries.

However, many urgent issues remain to be addressed. Pacific nations must introduce and implement laws that prosecute perpetrators of violence and provide redress for survivors. They must provide adequate services for survivors and their children, including safe houses for women escaping from violence.

Pacific nations urgently need to lift the quotas of women in parliament. The region has some of the lowest numbers of women parliamentarians in the world. Women parliamentarians understand and can help address the needs of women in the community. Increasing the numbers of women in parliament will demonstrate to Pacific communities that women can have a role in making decisions that affect them, and that all women deserve respect.