Men and fathers across the Pacific are being urged to rethink how they raise their sons and challenge traditional gender roles in the home as part of efforts to address gender-based violence.
While speaking at the Pacific Islands Health Research Symposium, UnitingWorld Pacific Office Regional Coordinator Rev. Dr Cliff Bird says while there are many positive cultural practices in the way Pacific families socialise and raise their children that should be maintained, there are also practices that need to be reconsidered, particularly those relating to gender roles and relationships.
Rev. Dr Bird says through his work with churches and communities across the Pacific, he has encountered cases where violence was perpetrated against women and girls because they did not fulfil household chores expected of them based on traditional gender roles.
Insert:Rev. Dr Bird on Fathers 5th Sept 26
He also highlights the high prevalence of gender-based violence across Pacific countries and says violence is also occurring within churches and faith-based communities.
Rev. Dr Bird says there also needs to be critical rethinking of how the Bible and other holy scriptures are read and interpreted, particularly passages that have historically been used to justify the dominance of men and the domestication or silencing of women and girls.
He says religious teachings should instead affirm and empower women and girls, children and other vulnerable people.
He acknowledges work already being undertaken by churches and faith-based organisations in Fiji, including the House of Sarah, the Methodist Church in Fiji's Family Life Ministry and the Catholic Church's Women at the Well Ministry, but says these initiatives need to be strengthened and resourced.
Rev. Dr Bird also highlights Gender Equality Theology, which he and his wife started in the region with Pacific partner churches and United Churches in Australia, saying theological and biblical resources developed through the initiative are being used by churches and faith-based organisations across the Pacific.
He says men can play a greater role in addressing gender-based violence through men's fellowship groups, male advocacy programmes, male champions, role models and initiatives such as the House of Sarah's men as change agents.
Rev. Dr Bird says existing men's groups and networks have the potential to address gender-based violence more intentionally in their activities with men and boys.
He also identifies sport as another important area where gender-based violence needs to be addressed, saying sporting facilities should be safe spaces for everyone.
He says work is already being undertaken in Fiji and Samoa through rugby and increasingly across some Pacific islands through football, but communities need to consider frameworks that mainstream dignity, safety, health and equality in sport.
Rev. Dr Bird also highlights Project Goalkeeper in the Solomon Islands, which links faith and sport in addressing gender-based violence.
The initiative was developed with the Solomon Islands Football Federation, Solomon Islands National Sports Council, UN Women and member churches of the Solomon Islands Christian Association.
He says the resource provides Bible studies and other educational and advocacy material for use at village and community level, with the Solomon Islands Football Federation preparing to roll it out in identified rural communities.
Rev. Dr Bird says men and boys have the opportunity to become agents of change in addressing gender-based violence, not only in homes and churches but also in communities and sport.
