PRIME MINISTER PRAISED FAMILY PROTECTION ACT

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has praised the Family Protection Act  saying the Act has made major inroads to addressing the issue of violence against children in a family setting.

Sogavare made the statement during his meeting with the visiting Special Representative of the United Nation’s General Secretary on Violence Against Children, Martha Santos Pais this week.

The Prime Minister told the visiting Special Representative an established referral network with the Ministry of Health, the Police, the Family Support Centre and the Christian Care Centre has made it easier to deal with cases of violence against children.

The Prime Minister also said more can still be done to address this issue on the national front.

Meanwhile, Ms Pais told local journalists yesterday she was very pleased to know that Solomon Islands Government has a strong commitment to putting an end to violence against children in the country.

“And I have been very pleased to listen to the reaffirmation of the strong commitment by the Government of Solomon Islands to ensure that there is no ambivalence about the commitment of the nation of Solomon Islands to put an end to situations of violence affecting children within the family, within the schools or within the communities, and from the meetings the Honourable Prime Minister to the various ministers that we have been able to meet, this has been a constant message that we have been very pleased to see reaffirmed.”

The Special Representative of the United Nation’s General Secretary on Violence Against Children, Martha Santos Pais left the country today.