Amnesty International invites you to a media briefing to coincide with the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting.

Experts in the field of human rights will brief journalists on one of the gravest rights violations in the Pacific region: violence against women and girls, the rates of which are some of the highest in the world.

Speakers will explain how the severe and widespread problem of violence against women in the Pacific region prevents Pacific countries from achieving their economic and development goals. They will outline the steps that Pacific Governments can take to address the issues of gender inequality and violence against women, for the advancement of individual states and the region as a whole.

Speakers: Apolosi Bose, Pacific Researcher, Amnesty International.

Shamima Ali, Coordinator of Fiji Women's Crisis Centre and representing Pacific Women's Network Against Violence Against Women.

Rita Taphorn, Regional Programme Manager, Gender Equality in Political Governance, UNIFEM. Media Briefing 09:15am - 10:15 am Thursday 6 August, 2009 Meeting Room 2 Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort 122 Lake Street Cairns QLD 4870