MWYCFA Official Response to the Article Titled ‘PS Alependava calls on women and girls to stop wearing trousers’

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs would like to officially clarify that the above captioned Article and the sentiments expressed therein are his solely and not that of the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs and that of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign against women and girls Organizing Committee.

The Ministry’s principles and values is to promote the protection of all people especially women, girls, children and those most vulnerable from any forms of violence. Key to this principle and value is the critical message that there is no excuse for violence whatsoever – there are triggers for violence but the cause of gender-based violence is rooted in power imbalances and gender inequalities.

Permanent Secretary Alependava wishes to sincerely apologize for the concerns that the above Article might have raised with the Ministry’s key stakeholders, and importantly the women and girls of Solomon Islands.

The Ministry wishes to sincerely thank its national and regional partners and stakeholders for the continues collaboration and dedication to addressing violence against women and girls in the Solomon Islands.