Sistas Savve Stepping out from the Shadows

The Sistas Savve women have a strong presence at the Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Shadow Report Workshop being held this week. Several staff members, volunteers and two Sistas Savve graduates are halfway through a four day workshop, in which several women-focused NGOs are working together to write the CEDAW Shadow Report.

The Shadow Report is written by Solomon Islands NGOs to complement and critique the report written by the SI government. Both reports evaluate the country’s progress towards achieving the goals of CEDAW, which encompass all the ways in which women are denied equality with men. Goals include achieving the right to vote and be involved in politics, the right to live free of harmful gender stereotypes and violence, and the right to equal access to health-care, education, and employment.

As in all countries, there are several barriers stopping females from enjoying their full rights and achieving equality with males in the Solomon Islands. Although the Solomon Islands government signed the CEDAW treaty in 2002, it is yet to submit a report to the CEDAW Committee. Writing the Shadow Report is a great opportunity for Sistas Savve to use their experience and stories to benefit women at a national level.

Clockwise from left: SS White River graduates, Weena and Loloma, SS Coordinator Doris, Community Liasion Officer Jenny and VSA Volunteer Hannah discuss ways to improve employment, education and health rights for women in the Solomon Islands.