SOLOMON ISLANDS: Solomons Police Must Set Example in Fighting Gender Violence: Commissioner

Solomon Islands' new police commissioner says the police must set an example when it comes to addressing the country's high rate of violence against women.

This year's World Bank Development Report cites Solomon Islands as having the world's worst level of sexual violence against women, with 64 percent of women having experienced domestic violence.

John Lansley says those statistics will be changed through the education of today's young people and focussing on gender equality.

He says the police force now has a woman in the role of assistant police commissioner and two women as chief superintendents, as well as a platoon of women officers.

“So we're looking at about 20 percent of women in the Solomon Islands police and that in itself gives a clue to our view of gender equality.”

John Lansley says he will be treating the issue of violence against women as a priority during his tenure as head of police.