The Issue
Gender inequality and violence against women and children is a serious issue. In poor communities, it is women and children who are the most vulnerable to abuse and violence. The issues are often deeply entrenched through being part of the culture; however they often also arise as a result of misinterpreted Christian teaching.
What we are doing
We are working with our partners in Africa and the Pacific to help keep people safe from abuse and exploitation. This includes enhancing rights and equality in Kenya, creating safer and more cohesive communities which will enable women and youth to flourish with dignity and respect in the Solomon Islands, and promoting livelihoods activities in Vanuatu which build self-reliance in remote communities in the country and focus on empowering women.
Our projects in Kenya and the Solomon Islands receive support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
Get the Facts
- More than 63 percent of women and girls in the Solomon Islands have experienced violence at the hand of an intimate partner or family member.
- 60 percent of women aged 15-49 in Vanuatu who have been in a relationship have experienced violence from an intimate partner.
- In Kenya, 32 percent of young women aged 18–24 years and 18 percent of their male counterparts reported experiencing sexual violence before the age of 18.
- In Vanuatu, people with disabilities are more likely to be poor – nearly 31 percent of people with disabilities are in the lowest wealth quintile, compared with 16 percent of people who do not report having a
disability.