AUCKLAND: November 25 kicked off the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, which runs until International Human Rights Day, on December 10. These two symbolic dates underline violence against women as a grave abuse of human rights. Central to Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand 16 days of activism will be sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the Solomon Islands and Guatemala. “The statistics are horrific,” says Margaret Taylor, Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand's Activism Support Manager. “According to studies, 64% of women and girls in the Solomon Islands between the ages of 15 and 49 experience physical and/or sexual violence at the hands of their partners and other family members.” “We are calling on the Solomon Islands government, with one of the highest rates of SGBV in the world, to enact and enforce legislation to address this horrific violence,” said Taylor. Impacting on average two out of every three women, SGBV is an issue facing not only the Solomon Island but the entire Pacific region. Taylor is also calling on New Zealanders to support those like Norma Cruz who has been repeatedly threatened with death and attacked since 2008 for leading the Survivors Foundation. The foundation protects women's rights in Guatemala City by documenting cases of violence against women and fighting for victims' right to justice. “Amnesty International is urging New Zealanders to put pressure on the Guatemalan authorities to effectively investigate and prosecute those responsible for the threats and attacks against Norma Cruz,” said Taylor. BM
