THE absence of high profile government officers at the Family Violence and Youth Justice workshop indicates they do not prioritise family violence issues.
High Court judge, Justice James Apaniai, who chaired Thursday’s discussions on looking at the way forward to help victims of violence, said high profile government officers were expected to attend the workshop.
He said the government seems to give a low priority to issues regarding family violence.
“We want to discuss and find ways forward to help victims and what is the best way we can come up with,” he said.
But he said the government seems to give a low priority to addressing these issues which is why they are not present.
He said none of the Members of Parliament and even the acting police commissioner or permanent secretaries attends the workshop.
He said they are the ones who were supposed to attend the workshop to hear the discussions and find a way forward to help victims of violence.
“Instead they are only concentrating on the Rural Constitution Development Funds (RCDF).
“We are expecting them to be here, but since they are not what are we going to do?
“Our voices heard to be heard.”
Justice Apaniai said when they are not trying to do anything to help the victims; we have to do something to help the victims.
“How to move forward is coming out with ideas.”
In addition to that, Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika who was also chairing the discussions, told participants that it is good they continue giving ideas.
However, he said it is the implementation part that he sees as a big challenge.
“Implementation of this protection bill is very important,” Mr Seuika said.
He said if people are not pulling up their socks then “we are not going anywhere”.
The four day workshop that was hosted by the Pacific Judicial Development Programme will end today.
Today’s activities include presentations and plenary discussions.
The workshop was made available by the New Zealand government who funded it and run by the Federal Court of Australia.
Participants of the workshop came from the judiciary, government agencies and departments as well as non-government organisations.
Its objective are to consider family violence in both the Pacific context and in Solomon Islands, and to learn how to approach and deal with it, within the constraints of present law, to consider the proposed Solomon Islands Family Protection Bill 2013, and to learn its scope; to review the operation and implementation of the Juvenile Act, and the Evidence Act and to consider the setting up of a Pacifika Court for young offenders.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
