BY CHRIS ALEX
DR. Cedric Alependava, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children, and Family Affairs (MWYCFA), delivered a powerful keynote address during the Honiara Council of Women Festival Program held at SMI Grounds on Thursday.
The event, themed “Benchmark in Leadership,” brought together 10,700 women members of the Honiara City Council to celebrate and reflect on the importance of women’s leadership and ongoing efforts to combat violence against women and girls.
Dr. Alependava commended the impressive turnout, expressing his admiration for the gathering. “Women, you must remember, you have the power because 50% of our population is made up of women,” he said. However, he urged women to rise above complacency and silence, emphasizing the need to raise the leadership benchmark for women in the Solomon Islands.
The address coincided with the ongoing 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence, which was officially launched by the Prime Minister earlier in this week. Instituted by the United Nations in 2000, the campaign aims to unite global efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls.
Dr. Alependava highlighted the grim reality of violence in the Solomon Islands, revealing that 64% of women and girls in the country experience violence, one of the highest rates in the region and the world. He also highlighted global statistics, noting that 140 women and girls die from violence every day.
“The theme of this year’s campaign, ‘Unite to End Violence against Women and Girls: Changing Beliefs and Changing Behaviour,’ is a call to action for everyone,” he stated. “This includes men and boys, who are responsible for 80% of violence cases against women and girls. It is imperative to involve every son, man, and boy in driving change.”
Dr. Alependava also stressed the need to challenge entrenched cultural norms and redefine manhood to foster respect and equality. “We need to change beliefs, traditions, and behaviours to reduce and eventually eliminate violence against women and girls,” he urged.
As the festival focused on leadership, Dr. Alependava encouraged women to embody excellence in their roles, emphasizing that leadership is measured by character, qualities, and the ability to inspire change.
Reflecting on the Prime Minister’s earlier call for collective action, he reiterated the importance of uniting across gender lines to create a safer and more equitable society. “We need everyone—women, girls, men, and boys—to work together to reduce and eliminate violence,” he concluded.
With 12 days remaining in the 16 Days of Activism, the call for change continues to echo across the nation.
The event was graced by notable guests, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA), Dr. Cedric Alependava; Miss Solomon Islands, Elsie Polosovai; Deputy Police Commissioner Juanita Matanga; Lady Keithie Saunders; and representatives of the Solomon Islands National Council of Women (SINCW).
