The main town in the western Solomons, Gizo, was hit by waves several metres high that swamped buildings and washed people out to sea, officials said.
Local officials fear the numbers of dead could rise, with reports of outlying villages being destroyed.
The quake measured 8.0 and hit at 0740 local time on Monday (2040 GMT Sunday).
________________________________________________________________
Via PACWIN
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Women
Challenged to Change Attitudes by Josephine Teakeni
(VBMS)
On International Women’s Day,
hundreds
of women marched through the street of
A
number of light entertainment features were organised together with the moving
dramatisation of hardships
faced by many Solomon Island women on a daily basis, while a range of speakers
including There was speeches by Dr Junelyn Pikacha, Nanette Tutuo and Janet
Tuhaika addressed the themes Gender Violence and Reproductive Health, Women's
role in business management, and the National Women's Development
Policy.
Former Permanent
Secretary (PS) for Women, and the current PS of the Fisheries Department,
Ethel Sigimanu (pictured left) issued a direct challenge to the government and
churches of
"For
far too long those who commit violence against women and girls have been allowed
to get away with the crimes they have committed. This is due to several
factors. Within our
Discriminatory
traditions that violate women's human rights, said Sigimanu need to be changed,
and she noted that sadly churches, which have important influence in Solomon
Island communities is not taking a strong enough stand against
violence.
Sigimanu
also served a reminder of the obligations of the state: “The Government itself
cannot be excused. How much work has it done on the much talked about
Violence Against Women's Policy? How much work has it done to ensure that
CEDAW is firmly grounded into our domestic laws? How awareness has it done
on the subject of human rights at the community level? How much work has
it done to see that the National Women's Policy and the institutional and legal
framework adequately cater for addressing the issue of gender violence?
How much recognition and support is Government giving to women's NGOs and civil
society organizations raising awareness throughout
And she also challenged civil
society: “Have
we given the issue of gender violence enough emphasis? Are we
collaborating enough? What happened to the word partnerships? Are we
sharing our resources, ideas, plans, vision for elimating violence against
women? What role is each of us playing and how can be all work together to
play a more enhancing role? "
Sigimanu
called on the women of