The Hon Pat Conroy, Minister for Pacific Island Affairs
The Australian Government has announced new funding to improve essential services for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in Solomon Islands.
The announcement comes during the 16 Days of Activism, an annual global campaign against GBV.
Investing in the prevention and elimination of GBV is one of the most effective ways to boost productivity, improve school attendance and retention, and build peaceful, resilient communities.
To support a strong, prosperous and peaceful Solomon Islands, Australia will invest an additional $2.5 million in the life-saving work of the Family Support Centre and Christian Care Centre.
These organisations have a long history of providing critical frontline services to survivors of GBV.
As part of Pacific Strong: Amplifying Action to End Violence Against Women and Girls, a new five-year regional initiative, this funding will expand and strengthen GBV response services in Solomon Islands.
Gender equality and freedom from violence are fundamental human rights – and are essential for peace, prosperity, and stability across the Pacific and in Australia.
Quotes attributable to Pacific Island Affairs Minister Pat Conroy:
"Australia stands firmly with the Pacific in efforts to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors.
"This investment is about creating a safer, better future for women and girls in Solomon Islands."
Quotes attributable to the Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Nita Green:
"We are stepping up our support for gender-based violence response services in Solomon Islands."
"This new program will have a profound impact for women and girl survivors and those at risk of violence, who count on the critical and lifesaving work of women's rights organisations."
The Albanese Government has invested more than any Australian government ever – more than $4 billion – in family, domestic and sexual violence.
The Government has also:
- Made the Leaving Violence Program permanent, so women have the financial support they need to leave abusive relationships
- Introduced legislation to make sure our social security system can't be weaponised by perpetrators of abuse
- Funded programs that intervene earlier with men who want to change their behaviours
- Invested a further $25 million over five years to strengthen frontline services in the Pacific
- Invested $1.2 billion for emergency and transitional housing to ensure women can reach safety
- Invested a record $3.9 billion in legal services – including an extra $800 million with a focus on women and children experiencing family violence
- Supported the recovery of children who have experienced violence, investing $81 million for services like child-specific counselling
- Invested $82m to deliver innovative new approaches to better identify high risk perpetrators and share information about them across systems and state boundaries.
- Legislated 10 days paid domestic violence leave, so workplaces support women to stay financially secure and connected
- Made it illegal to fire someone because of their experience of domestic or family violence
- Launched an inquiry into domestic, family and sexual violence related suicide
- Established the National Higher Education Code to prevent and respond to Gender-based Violence in universities
- Implemented all the recommendations of the Respect@Work report, including the creation of a positive duty for employers to protect staff and customers from sexual harassment and abuse
- Reformed the family law system so it is safer, fairer and more accessible
- Boosted funding for 1800RESPECT by 40%
- Taken world-leading action to address the impact of online harms - including the social media ban and restricting access to predatory technologies like nudify apps and undetectable stalking tools.