* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
In many patriarchal societies – like we see in the Pacific region – attitudes towards women are slow to change
For about three decades, as one Solomon Islander woman described it, her life was a living hell. Sitting in the capital, Honiara, she describes being physically, sexually and emotionally abused by her former husband.
Her courage in speaking about is applaudable. For years, she had remained silent about her abuse. Her former husband had curtailed her visits with family and friends, even her time with her children. What’s even more horrific is that she is not alone. Estimates of the Government of Solomon Islands say two in three women face domestic or family violence at some point in their lives.
It’s no easy matter to stop this. In many patriarchal societies – like we see in the Pacific region – attitudes towards women are slow to change. But we are seeing signs of change, as increasingly business is recognizing that violence against women affects their employees and comes at a cost to their bottom line.
Already in Solomon Islands, 17 of the country’s largest businesses have signed up to the Waka Mere Commitment to Action, to promote workplace gender equality. And that includes creating supportive workplaces – free of violence and prepared to help those facing violence at home.
Waka Mere – which means She Works in pidgin – is an initiative of IFC in partnership with the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and supported by the Australian and New Zealand Governments.
Managers at some Solomon Islands’ businesses talk about women failing to show for work for a few days, and when they do a “shiner” or black eye was all too evident. They also speak about not knowing know how to handle it or help their colleagues.
It’s why most of the largest companies in Solomon Islands are now – under the Waka Mere initiative – having staff trained in being point people for domestic violence survivors. The idea is they not only help them in the workplace, but also refer them to outside places for assistance. Business is also measuring the cost to its bottom line. Absent workers mean less productivity, less profit.
It’s not a problem isolated to Solomon Islands. A recent survey by IFC in Papua New Guinea of some 17 companies found that 94 percent of those employers reported that violence affected their staff and businesses.
The cost of lost staff time amounted to up to nine percent of a company’s total wage bill. In one Papua New Guinea company the total loss to the company was about $4.3 million Kina – that’s about $1.7 million Australian dollars per year.
And in Vanuatu, one business owner – who employs about 10 women and 50 men – has told us of two severe cases of domestic violence last year. Disturbingly in both cases, partners or family went to the workplace and tried to assault female staff.
While the business has a strict policy on violence, and gives support, even assisting with medical bills, the owner says he felt powerless in a rigged system. Without financial or moral support from the business, the two women would have continued to be abused, unable to attend work and provide for their families. And the owner has found that his is not an isolated case. Other businesses report the same issue.
The hope is more businesses will band together and act, following the lead of companies in Papua New Guinea where business has joined forces under the Business Coalition for Women, and in Solomon Islands where businesses have launched the Waka Mere initiative.
As the CEO of SICCI, Dennis Meone says it is the right thing to do. The private sector can take a leading role in becoming champions for women in the Pacific. The task now is for private sector across the Pacific to embrace the challenge.
Thomas Jacobs is IFC’s Country Manager for Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.
