Vois Blo Mere Solomon (VBMS) community based members will be conducting a safe, effective and ethical interview with survivors of sexual and gender- based violence in three provinces.
The interviews will be conducted in Malaita, Western and Guadalcanal provinces as part of its campaign on gender violence.
The program was described as an initiative that would help reduce violence against women in Solomon Islands especially in the rural areas.
This program is being supported by UN Women in partnership with VBMS to promote and expose women’s right in the country.
The campaign will feature interviewing the survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in the communities by using video camera (Digital stories on survivors of domestic violence).
With the revolution of information and communication technology (ICT), various digital means have been explored to interact and share life experiences with others.
VBMS program officer and facilitator Lisa Horiwapu said, digital storytelling is a pioneering technique that allows ordinary people to share their stories from unique, personal perspectives.
She said, digital storytelling is being effectively utilized in education, health, and for political awareness as well.
“Women survivors of violence are also being effectively exploiting this innovative technology worldwide in sharing their voices with others to suppress gender based violence.”
Studies have been conducted to investigate the potency of digital storytelling in various fields, he said.
“The current study explores the use of digital storytelling as a means to induce self-healing for the women survivors of violence in, specifically victims of domestic violence and sexual harassment incidents in Solomon Islands,“ Mr Horiwapu said.
A one week workshop for local journalist and VBMS provincial based workers was held in Honiara a fortnight ago in preparation for the task in the coming remaining months.
This is to allow those conducting the interviews to be aware and allow survivors to speak out and share their stories with those who may be in a position to make a difference.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
