Violence against women: UN expert launches first visit to the Solomon Islands

GENEVA (9 March 2012) – United Nations Special Rapporteur Rashida Manjoo will visit the Solomon Islands from 12 to 16 March 2012. This is the first visit of the independent expert on violence against women, its causes and consequences, to the country.

“Violence against women is the most pervasive human rights violation in the world. It hinders women’s full enjoyment of all their fundamental rights and freedoms,” said the human rights expert who will visit Solomon Islands at the invitation of the Government. “During my mission I will meet with national stakeholders involved in fighting all aspects related to violence against women, with a view to assessing the phenomenon in the country.”

Ms. Manjoo’s mandate on violence against women, its causes and consequences includes violence in the family, both domestic violence and culturally justified practices that are violent to or subordinate women; violence in the community; violence that is perpetrated or condoned by the State; and violence in the transnational sphere, including violence against migrant women.

The Special Rapporteur will travel to Honiara, where she will hold meetings with government authorities and representatives of civil society. The expert will also visit shelters and detention centres, and meet with individual victims of gender-based violence.

The independent expert will hold a press conference at the end of her visit at the Conference Room of the United Nations Development Programme, at the City Centre Building, Mendana Avenue, in Honiara, on March 16 November at 1330h.

Based on the information obtained during the mission, the Special Rapporteur will present a report with her final findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council.

Ms. Rashida Manjoo (South Africa) was appointed Special Rapporteur on Violence against women, its causes and consequences in June 2009 by the UN Human Rights Council, for an initial period of three year. As Special Rapporteur, she is independent from any government or organization and serves in her individual capacity. Ms. Manjoo is also a Professor at the Department of Public Law at the University of Cape Town. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/SRWomen/Pages/SRWomenIndex.aspx

UN Human Rights Country Page – Solomon Islands: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/SBIndex.aspx

For more information and press inquiries:
In Honiara: Stella Delaiverata-Tuhaika (+ 677 22747 / stella.delaiverata@undp.org)
In Geneva: Gabriela Guzmán (+ 41 22 917 9412 / gguzman@ohchr.org, vaw@ohchr.org

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

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