11 Oct 2010

US funding for anti domestic violence programmes in Marshalls

6:24 am on 11 October 2010

The national women's organization in the Marshall Islands will be training police and medical personnel to improve the response to domestic violence in the country.

The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women has just confirmed a grant of nearly 700 thousand Us dollars.

It will go to Women United Together Marshall Islands for a 3 year programme.

Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor reports.

"The executive director of the group, Daisy Alik-Momotaro, says the UN grant will support anti-violence work focusing on increasing public awareness about the high prevalence of domestic violence in the country. A 2007 study by the government found found half of the 312 women who took part - said they were physically and sexually abused but they also did not report or tell anyone about being abused. Mrs Alik-Momotaro says increasing penalties for domestic violence and enforcing the laws is a priority of her organisation. She says the group is also working on plans for a safe house for battered women. The UN grant comes less than two months after the fatal stabbing in Majuro of a woman, whose husband is now facing trial for second-degree murder."