Women's Sporting Chance

SOLOMON ISLANDS: As an important part of community life, more women will be encouraged to take up sport.

Two women kicking a soccer ball It's commonly but incorrectly assumed, especially in post-conflict situations, the needs of women and men are the same. And so it is men tend to take charge of everything. They fill the leadership roles and make the decisions. Women are sidelined.

They may be called upon to fulfil minor responsibilities but, by and large, they're excluded from planning and reconstruction stages. The result is in several areas women's needs, opportunities and aspirations are overlooked.

Sister Anester (L) and Sister Janet in a friendly match among the Sisters of Melanesia, Guadalcanal. Photo: Torsten Blackwood/AFP

One such area is sport. In several troubled states around the Pacific women's access to sports training and resources - even the chance to play sport or use recreational facilities - is limited.

Yet sport, which is an excellent way to bring communities together and resolve differences, is also an important part of Melanesian life. Not everyone, however, has an equal opportunity to participate.

Giving women a sporting chance is at the heart of a new activity which aims to support annual provincial and national sports carnivals. The plan is to give women the best possible opportunity to join in. A locally-engaged 'women's participation officer' will ease the way by implementing inclusive activities for women as participants, referees and organisers.

Through support of the sports carnivals it's hoped women will take the chance to improve their skills and consequently grow in confidence as competitors.

Sports carnivals take place in each of the country's nine provinces leading to a culmination - the Solomon Islands National Games - this year on the island of Makira.

Greater participation in sport is a way of raising the profile of women and including women in another important aspect of community life. When women are included in all aspects of community life, it will not be so easy to overlook their needs in reconstruction initiatives.

The new sporting activity is to be funded by AusAID and managed through the Australian Sports Commission. The International Women's Development Agency (IWDA) will contribute to the project's gender component.

2006