REDUCING violence against women includes building safer spaces for women to work and rest in.
Marking this year’s 16-days of activism against gender-based violence, Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Rod Hilton said Australia’s zero tolerance to gender-based violence informed every part of the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership.
“At the recent opening of the refurbished Tulagi Market, the vendors I spoke to said they appreciated the perimeter fencing installed around the market as part of the upgrade works,” High Commissioner Hilton said.
“When they overnighted in the market, the women could sleep safely without disturbance from men coming through the market.”
Like many markets in Solomon Islands, women travel from distant communities and overnight at the market until their produce is sold. At Tulagi, 10 – 20 vendors can be overnighting, sometimes with children.
Before the refurbishment, the women faced safety issues at night, with people sometimes disturbing them as they slept. Inclusion of their request for security fencing in the project design stage has solved this problem.
Local vendor, Ms Rose Prudence, said the vendors were now felt safer at the market.
“I can sell my products, access water and be safe.”
High Commissioner Hilton said as Australia continued its rollout of the Provincial Markets Redevelopment Program around the country, it would continue to promote the voices of women to ensure their safety and security.
“We need to listen to women and other key users of infrastructure when we are designing the spaces that women use, the places they work in, so that together we can help reduce the potential for violence against them.”
The Provincial Markets Redevelopment Program is currently constructing a new market in Buala, with markets in Malu’u and Seghe to commence in the new year. All will feature perimeter security fencing as requested by the vendors using the markets.
