Santos and Santos Foundation leading on EVAW day activities

Santos Medical and Wellbeing team, including Santos Foundation staff at Moro during EVAW awareness onsite.

Santos and the Santos Foundation hosted activities to commemorate the day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW). Gender-based violence (GBV), especially violence directed at women is an issue in the communities in which Santos operates and EVAW day was an opportunity to address this, not just amongst staff, but also in the surrounding communities.

For Santos staff and contractors in the Kutubu and Gobe camps, merchandise including t-shirts and caps were procured for EVAW day activities create visible opportunities for conversation. The camps were also issued with safety toolbox topics for discussion and encouraged managers to discuss these talking points during the morning meetings. An EVAW walk was planned for Kutubu camps, however, due to security risks, this activity was cancelled. But this did not stop a team of staff who organised their own walk around camp to bring awareness on EVAW.

In Kerema town, Santos Foundation field team, in partnership with the Gulf EVAW Coordinating team planned the first ever EVAW walk in Kerema town on Friday 24th November. There were more than 500 participants, including the Provincial Administrator, Kerema Town Mayor, Provincial Community & Development Officer, FSV Officer, and Media personal from Gulf NBC. Message from the leaders emphasised the need to work together with partners such as the Santos Foundation to end violence against women and girls in Gulf province. Current rates of violence against women in the Gulf province are very high. The leaders made a commitment to support EVAW activities from 2024 onwards.

Santos Foundation, in partnership with the Pimaga Rural Health Hospital rolled out a week long awareness program in Pimaga, Southern Highlands province, in the lead up to EVAW day activities Awareness sessions were conducted at Orokana, Hegeso and Tirapu villages, including Tirapu Primary School, Kutubu Secondary school and Tanuga Primary school. The main event was on EVAW day on Saturday 25th November, with an awareness session at the main Pimaga market. During this time, merchandise was given out to participants, including t-shirts and caps provided by the Foundation.

The team in Tari, Hela province organised an EVAW day march with public service partners, including the Police, the Defence Force, the FSVU and family support centre (FSC). More than 200 participants joined the walk in calling on the public in Tari to end violence against women and girls in Hela province. The walk started from the main gate at the Hela Provincial hospital, around Tari airport and up to Pangale House grandstand.