Palau (& USA & UN Cooperative) National Forum on Family and Gender-based Violence
National Forum on Family and Gender-based Violence
by Island Times
December 8, 2023
Koror, December 07, 2023 - As part of the line-up of events for the ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’ campaign, a ‘National Forum on Family and Gender-Based Violence’ was held on Wednesday December 6, 2023. Hosted at Ngarachamayong Cultural Center in Koror, the Forum attracted over ninety (90) attendees including Palauan leaders, government officials, diplomats, experts, community organizations and members of the public. The Forum was generously supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and co-organized by the Office of the Vice President and the Ministry of Health and Human Services.
The United Nations-led ’16 Days of Activism’ campaign was adopted in Palau this year via Presidential Proclamation no.23-355.
The attendees heard presentations explaining the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) around the world and its disproportionate impact on women and girls. US Ambassador to Palau, his Excellency Joel Ehrendreich courageously shared his own childhood experience with domestic violence and his hope that sharing such stories would allow victims to realize that they are not fault.
The attendees also heard that in Palau, a survey conducted in 2013 by the UNFPA found that around 25% of women had experienced physical and/or physical violence in their lifetime. More recent administrative data shows a steady stream of people accessing government services in relation to domestic abuse indicating that it continues to be a significant problem in Palau.
Central to the discussions was acknowledgement of the ongoing work of responding to GBV via the Family Protection Act (FPA). This legislative framework criminalizes domestic abuse and also makes civil protective orders available via the court. The FPA Working Group endorsed its newly amended Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with full signing expected to follow soon. This MOU represents ongoing efforts to develop inter-agency coordination to ensure the effective implementation of the FPA.
Following an address by the UNFPA Director Mr Iori Kato, the UNFPA team ceremonially presented a range of donated items, including tablets, cabinets with remaining items including a Bio-fridge, sexual assault kits, colposcopes and servers to the relevant ministries implementing the FPA.
The Forum was closed out with a speech by Vice President and Minister of Justice, Honorable J. Uduch Sengebau Senior, who thanked the on-the-ground staff for their continued dedication to the implementation of the FPA, and flagged a number of future objectives including the establishment of a shelter for victims, the need to critically analyze the FPA for any flaws, and the need for a new prevalence survey on gender-based violence in Palau.
https://islandtimes.org/national-forum-on-family-and-gender-based-violence/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
We All Have a Role in Preventing Gender-Based Violence
by Island Times
December 5, 2023
Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta and Ambassador Joel C. Ehrendreich
This month marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, starting with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, and culminating with Human Rights Day on December 10. These two markers symbolize what we know to be true: achieving gender equality is not possible without addressing gender-based violence, a human rights abuse that holds back women and girls in all their diversity from fully and safely participating in social, economic, and political life. Ultimately, gender-based violence harms all of us, regardless of who experiences it, and prevents our communities from reaching their full potential.
What does it mean for us to put anti-violence values into practice each day, in all aspects of our lives? What does it look like for government, civil society, business, and every part of society to say that enough is enough - we will no longer tolerate gender-based violence?
These are questions we should all be asking ourselves in our homes, our communities, and our countries. Gender-based violence continues unabated in every region of the world, at all levels of society. The United States is committed to addressing this vast and complex problem that limits the ability of survivors of gender-based violence to fully enjoy their rights in the United States and around the world. We recognize the critical linkages between gender equality-including prevention and response to gender-based violence-and democracy, national security, economic security, climate change, global public health, and human rights. This is why, over the last two years, the United States has prioritized development and implementation of the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality and updated the U.S. Strategy to Prevent & Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally and U.S. Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security.
The United States applauds the efforts of President Whipps and Vice President Senior to recognize and act to prevent gender-based violence. Presidential Proclamation No. 23-355 declaring November 25 to December 10, 2023, as the White Ribbon Campaign and 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, calls attention to the issue, which is often ignored out of shame, fear, or societal pressures. In support of activism, The Vice President’s chairing of the Family Protection Act Working Group in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund and the International Organization for Migration are driving cooperative actions to protect vulnerable populations.
The U.S. Embassy is supporting the Palau Government’s actions by pursuing a whole of society approach to combating bender-based violence through its partnership with the International Organization for Migration; funding art and poetry competitions to promote engagement with high school and college students, psychosocial first aid trainings for police to better attend to the needs of GBV victims and high-level events and panel discussions with government leaders and policy practitioners to galvanize national action among other things. USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance is also strengthening national and subnational capacities to support sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services in emergencies.
By continuing to bolster the ability of local and national responders to provide life-saving interventions for sexual and reproductive health and gender based violence during disasters and public health emergencies, Palau is creating safe spaces for women and girls to access physical and mental health services.
It is crucial that in our collective efforts we understand the full gender-based violence continuum - where, when, and how it occurs - and take steps to ensure access to life-saving services for all survivors. Prevention of gender-based violence also requires that we promote justice and accountability for these acts and establish an enabling environment - rather than a limiting one - for all survivors of gender-based violence to thrive.
This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document affirming that every human being is born free and equal in dignity and rights, and that these rights exist without distinction of any kind. We could not agree more. Let us act urgently to scale up what we know works to prevent gender-based violence; to promote gender equality; strengthen laws and end impunity; to use survivor-centered, trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches to our policy and programmatic work, locally and globally; and to always keep survivors front and center in everything we do.
Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta is Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. State Department. Joel C. Ehrendreich is a U.S. State Department Career Foreign Service Officer and the U.S. Ambassador to Palau.
https://islandtimes.org/we-all-have-a-role-in-preventing-gender-based-violence/
by Island Times
December 8, 2023
Koror, December 07, 2023 - As part of the line-up of events for the ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’ campaign, a ‘National Forum on Family and Gender-Based Violence’ was held on Wednesday December 6, 2023. Hosted at Ngarachamayong Cultural Center in Koror, the Forum attracted over ninety (90) attendees including Palauan leaders, government officials, diplomats, experts, community organizations and members of the public. The Forum was generously supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and co-organized by the Office of the Vice President and the Ministry of Health and Human Services.
The United Nations-led ’16 Days of Activism’ campaign was adopted in Palau this year via Presidential Proclamation no.23-355.
The attendees heard presentations explaining the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) around the world and its disproportionate impact on women and girls. US Ambassador to Palau, his Excellency Joel Ehrendreich courageously shared his own childhood experience with domestic violence and his hope that sharing such stories would allow victims to realize that they are not fault.
The attendees also heard that in Palau, a survey conducted in 2013 by the UNFPA found that around 25% of women had experienced physical and/or physical violence in their lifetime. More recent administrative data shows a steady stream of people accessing government services in relation to domestic abuse indicating that it continues to be a significant problem in Palau.
Central to the discussions was acknowledgement of the ongoing work of responding to GBV via the Family Protection Act (FPA). This legislative framework criminalizes domestic abuse and also makes civil protective orders available via the court. The FPA Working Group endorsed its newly amended Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with full signing expected to follow soon. This MOU represents ongoing efforts to develop inter-agency coordination to ensure the effective implementation of the FPA.
Following an address by the UNFPA Director Mr Iori Kato, the UNFPA team ceremonially presented a range of donated items, including tablets, cabinets with remaining items including a Bio-fridge, sexual assault kits, colposcopes and servers to the relevant ministries implementing the FPA.
The Forum was closed out with a speech by Vice President and Minister of Justice, Honorable J. Uduch Sengebau Senior, who thanked the on-the-ground staff for their continued dedication to the implementation of the FPA, and flagged a number of future objectives including the establishment of a shelter for victims, the need to critically analyze the FPA for any flaws, and the need for a new prevalence survey on gender-based violence in Palau.
https://islandtimes.org/national-forum-on-family-and-gender-based-violence/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
We All Have a Role in Preventing Gender-Based Violence
by Island Times
December 5, 2023
Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta and Ambassador Joel C. Ehrendreich
This month marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, starting with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, and culminating with Human Rights Day on December 10. These two markers symbolize what we know to be true: achieving gender equality is not possible without addressing gender-based violence, a human rights abuse that holds back women and girls in all their diversity from fully and safely participating in social, economic, and political life. Ultimately, gender-based violence harms all of us, regardless of who experiences it, and prevents our communities from reaching their full potential.
What does it mean for us to put anti-violence values into practice each day, in all aspects of our lives? What does it look like for government, civil society, business, and every part of society to say that enough is enough - we will no longer tolerate gender-based violence?
These are questions we should all be asking ourselves in our homes, our communities, and our countries. Gender-based violence continues unabated in every region of the world, at all levels of society. The United States is committed to addressing this vast and complex problem that limits the ability of survivors of gender-based violence to fully enjoy their rights in the United States and around the world. We recognize the critical linkages between gender equality-including prevention and response to gender-based violence-and democracy, national security, economic security, climate change, global public health, and human rights. This is why, over the last two years, the United States has prioritized development and implementation of the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality and updated the U.S. Strategy to Prevent & Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally and U.S. Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security.
The United States applauds the efforts of President Whipps and Vice President Senior to recognize and act to prevent gender-based violence. Presidential Proclamation No. 23-355 declaring November 25 to December 10, 2023, as the White Ribbon Campaign and 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, calls attention to the issue, which is often ignored out of shame, fear, or societal pressures. In support of activism, The Vice President’s chairing of the Family Protection Act Working Group in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund and the International Organization for Migration are driving cooperative actions to protect vulnerable populations.
The U.S. Embassy is supporting the Palau Government’s actions by pursuing a whole of society approach to combating bender-based violence through its partnership with the International Organization for Migration; funding art and poetry competitions to promote engagement with high school and college students, psychosocial first aid trainings for police to better attend to the needs of GBV victims and high-level events and panel discussions with government leaders and policy practitioners to galvanize national action among other things. USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance is also strengthening national and subnational capacities to support sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services in emergencies.
By continuing to bolster the ability of local and national responders to provide life-saving interventions for sexual and reproductive health and gender based violence during disasters and public health emergencies, Palau is creating safe spaces for women and girls to access physical and mental health services.
It is crucial that in our collective efforts we understand the full gender-based violence continuum - where, when, and how it occurs - and take steps to ensure access to life-saving services for all survivors. Prevention of gender-based violence also requires that we promote justice and accountability for these acts and establish an enabling environment - rather than a limiting one - for all survivors of gender-based violence to thrive.
This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document affirming that every human being is born free and equal in dignity and rights, and that these rights exist without distinction of any kind. We could not agree more. Let us act urgently to scale up what we know works to prevent gender-based violence; to promote gender equality; strengthen laws and end impunity; to use survivor-centered, trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches to our policy and programmatic work, locally and globally; and to always keep survivors front and center in everything we do.
Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta is Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. State Department. Joel C. Ehrendreich is a U.S. State Department Career Foreign Service Officer and the U.S. Ambassador to Palau.
https://islandtimes.org/we-all-have-a-role-in-preventing-gender-based-violence/