WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY:
SOLOMON ISLANDS
UNIFEM
WOMEN, WAR AND PEACE WEB PORTAL: SOLOMON ISLANDS
"I think it is important for us I mean to carry this reconcilliation
program. […] During this seminar in womens reconcilliation
we tried to look back in our way current way of solving problems
in our own culture, and then women come out with ideas that we
have our own way of solving problems in our own culture, and the
women identified this problem. […] For example, if two families
are quarelling or fighting...usually the women come and sit in
with the two conflict parties, and we women start to listen and
also we try to contribute to solve that problem. Not only men
that solve problems but women also involved in solving problems
in two conflict families."
Martha
Horiwapu, Women's desk for the archdiocese of Catholic Women's
Council in Honiara, 18 September 2003
"Despite the efforts of my Government,
women are still under-represented at policy and management levels
in both the public and private sectors, the NGOs and churches.
There is a great need to create political awareness, through
the education of women, to increase their participation in the
political process, including voting. The media can be a useful
tool in this regard. This year in March, I spoke on the Communication
Challenge, and I appealed to the Commonwealth Secretariat to mount
a special diploma programme in communication. This would be a
programme to graduate young people who are articulate, who have
the skills and motivations of critical analysis, who have technical
skills, can use the new information technology, can lead public
debate, who can venture into investigative journalism and who
understand the importance of human rights.[…] The current
ethnic tension in the country has caused tremendous difficulties
for women and children on Guadalcanal and Malaita Provinces. It
has resulted in the disruption of food supplies, the repatriation
of women, children and their families from one province to another;
closure of medical clinics and schools - depriving access to health
services and education; and restrictions on the movement of people.
As Minister responsible for Youth I called for peace and reconciliation
in my Mother's Day Message on May 14. Our women have also held
a major conference advocating peace and adopted a Communique reflecting
our concerns."
Hilda
Karl MP Minister for Women, Youth and Sports, 8 June 2000
"When the roadblocks were set up around town, we were
forced to move our settlement back. My son Dickson followed his
friends who had joined the IFM [a Guale militant group]. He didn’t
join. One night he was staying with his girlfriend’s family.
There were young IFM men there who were angry at his girlfriend’s
father about a letter that was supposed to have been delivered
to the police. Dickson tried to calm them down, but was accused
of being an MEF sympathiser. He died from the bashing they gave
him. One day I heard that a body had been found in Central Market.
It was my son Davidson. He had gone for a drink after work with
some Malaitan friends. He was talking with friends from Guadalcanal
when MEF soldiers came in and took him away. They shot him and
cut off his head. In the hospital, I sat by the body and counted
100 bullet wounds. His head was never found. We buried him next
to his brother in our village. I coped because of my Christian
beliefs, but it has been hard. I joined Women for Peace and went
into camps to talk to the militants. I am still worried about
my people, as I believe it is still not safe. I hope Oxfam can
help our communities and country. When the roadblocks were set
up around town, we were forced to move our settlement back. My
son Dickson followed his friends who had joined the IFM [a Guale
militant group]. He didn’t join. One night he was staying
with his girlfriend’s family. There were young IFM men there
who were angry at his girlfriend’s father about a letter
that was supposed to have been delivered to the police. Dickson
tried to calm them down, but was accused of being an MEF sympathiser.
He died from the bashing they gave him."
Bethery
Kiepo is from the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal
"During the tension, I believed there was a lot of cruelty
and atrocities happening, and what was lacking was love and compassion.
We tried to reach out to both warring groups. We didn’t take
sides. Although it was very dangerous, we visited the camps and
communities. I saw boys as young as eight or nine being forced
to join the armies. Many had mixed ethnic backgrounds. Often members
of one family would be different sides. A big wound has been left
in our people and our country. I have worked with many militants
on forgiveness. Many are experiencing guilt over what they did.
The most damage has been done to relationships. There has been
an increase in violence and sexual abuse, and more young people
are using alcohol and drugs. There is more prostitution, with
younger children selling themselves for money and food."
Sister
Lillian T Maeva is from Anuta, the easternmost island in the Solomons.
She risked her life daily during the tension to bring women and
children in from the fighting areas, to shelter at the Christian
Caring Center in Honiara
PeaceWomen 