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Archive - Archive 2004 - July 2013

Conference hears anti-violence call |13 December 2004

Conference hears anti-violence call

Speaking at the opening of the Soroptimist's tenth anniversary conference, the Minister for Administration and Manpower Development said, "it is time for the world to realise that the sufferings of women is not a gender issue: the sufferings of women and girls is a human dilemma that impacts negatively on all."

 Minister Alexander addressing the conference participants at the opening ceremony      Minister Alexander addressing the conference participants at the opening ceremony

Minister Alexander told the meeting called by the women's organisation that, "beyond the immediate physical and emotional effects it has been shown that violence increases women's future risk of various psychological emotional, behavioural and physical ailments and negatively affects their ability to enjoy other human rights."

"These ills have far reaching consequences: not only do they blight the individuals concerned but also taint the fabric of a nation and humanity at large."

Held under the title, "Women: Challenge the ills of today for a better tomorrow" the conference marks a decade of work by the Soroptimist International Club of Victoria.

Attended by members of the National Assembly, diplomats and representatives from business and civil society the conference was held at the National Institute of Education on Friday morning (December 10).

The half-day conference was addressed by a range of speakers from the state and private sectors.

Minister for Health, Patrick Pillay, spoke on, "Men in the Family," before Ruby Pardiwalla, director of the National Council for Children gave a talk on child abuse.

The visiting President of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland, Janet Garnons-Williams spoke about the links that exist between Soroptimists and Davina James-Hanman, the Greater London Domestic Violence Project director described the advances that have been made in tackling domestic violence and the need to continue to do more.

Following contributions from the department of employment, the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Drug and Alcohol Council and former Chief Justice Andre Sauzier, the conference delegates split into working groups to discuss the topics raised.

Soroptimist Rose-Marie Hoareau said that the findings returned by the four working groups would be backed by the organisation and forwarded to the relevant institutions for consideration.

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