BY JOY OFASIA
The Family Support Center is holding a national workshop in Honiara to help leaders understand and respond to gender-based violence.
The four-day training is taking place at Outback Holiday Resort and brings together provincial leaders from across Solomon Islands. The goal is to strengthen leadership, coordination, and commitment to end violence against women and girls.
Speaking at the opening, Family Support Center Board Chair Anika Kingmele said the workshop is not only training but also a call to action for leaders and partners.
“This workshop is more than training. It is a call to action for stronger commitment and coordination to end gender-based violence in our country,” she said.
She added that leadership is key in responding to the issue.
“The strength of our response depends on strong leadership at every level,” she said.
Kingmele thanked development partners including the United Trust Fund for their support.
She said the workshop will help provincial leaders understand gender equality, human rights and how to better respond to violence in communities.
“We want stronger provincial leadership and better coordination so that together we can end violence in our communities,” she said.
Organisers said the training is the first of its kind for provincial leaders and is facilitated by experts from Fiji.
Participants are expected to take lessons back to their provinces to improve coordination, reporting and community awareness on gender-based violence. The workshop is the first of its kind and marks an important step in strengthening provincial action and national commitment to ending violence. It also provides a platform for leaders to share experiences, build stronger partnerships, and ensure that gender-based violence is addressed not only through policies but also through practical action in communities, with the hope of creating safer homes, stronger families, and a more equal society for women and girls across Solomon Islands going forward in the country today and tomorrow.
