The police in Solomon Islands have taken significant steps to improve the way they respond to family violence.
Commissioner Matthew Varley and Minister of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs Lanelle Tanangada. Photo: RSIPF
The announcement coincides with the United Nations' 16 days of activism against gender based violence.
Police commissioner Matthew Varley said a new family violence office had been opened at the Central Police Station in Honiara.
An increasing number of frontline officers are also being trained to respond to family violence, Mr Varley said.
As a result, about 90 Protection Orders and 170 Safety Notices have been filed in court so far this year, he said.
"Although there is much work to do since the passage of the Family Protection Act in 2014, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force has made many significant steps to improve the way the Force responds and manages gender based violence incidents during the past 12 months," Mr Varley said.
"But to be honest, police work is not the answer to the problem of violence against women and girls. It is very important that we work together to fight and end violence against women and girls and take a multi-sectoral approach rather than each one working in silos," he said.