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Woman leader speaks against negative
attitude, comments
By CLIVE HAWIGEN
PEOPLE’S attitude and comments about women
who are victims of domestic violence discourages them from reporting the
assaults to the right authorities.
Naomi Yupae, executive director of the Eastern Highlands Province Family
Voice, said this during the International Women’s Day celebration held
at the Institute of Medical Research’s Adolf Saweri lecture theatre.
Her speech was centered on the theme “Impunity on violence against women
and girls in Papua New Guinea”.
Ms Yupae said the Government was not taking family violence seriously.
She said it looked as if there were separate laws for men and women, and
that women were always on the back foot.
She said the International Women’s Day came about during the time of
social crisis, where women throughout the world saw the need to have an
equal say in social, political and spiritual discussions.
“Yet in Papua New Guinea, these rights have been neglected or abused by
the male population,” Ms Yupae said.
She said in Parliament, when it came to addressing women’s issues in the
country, there always seemed to be excuses made in avoiding issues
concerning the women folk because most of the leaders were men.
Ms Yupae said a major concern was that of women and girls harassed by
those in authority and in positions of trust.
She also said marital rape was on the rise and that something needed to
be done about abusive husbands.
Family Voice in conjunction with other NGOs in the province has
tirelessly worked towards counselling victims of sexual harassment.
Meanwhile, Freda Talau, a lawyer who is attached with AusAID in Goroka,
said there was still a lot more to do and urged young Papua New Guineans
to go out there and work.
She said there were many good women role models who could be used to
mentor young women.
She said PNG was fortunate to have a Constitution that protects the
right of every men, women and children.
Ms Talau said what was sad was that most of them, especially mothers and
children, did not know that these rights existed to protect them.
 
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