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A woman of courage
Port Moresby South MP and Community Development minister Dame
Carol Kidu is humbled when awarded the US Department of States
International Award for courage and leadership. HARLYNE JOKU
writes
On Tuesday this week, the United States Ambassador to PNG, Leslie
Rowe announced that Dame Carol Kidu, the second time Member of
Port Moresby South Electorate and Community Development minister
had won the US Department of States International Award for
courage and leadership in advocating for social justice and
women's rights and advancement.
Ms Rowe described Dame Carol as a woman of exceptional courage who
stood up for social justice and women and children's issues in
PNG.
Dame Carol in an interview told the National Weekender that she
was truly humbled and honoured by the United States award.
She said since she was a child she has been driven by a passion
for social justice and has been an advocate since.
Dame Carol thanked the Ambassador and staff of the Embassy of the
United States of America for considering her to be worthy for
nomination for the prestigious international award.
She said it was an award not only for herself but for a great team
of people who helped and supported her through good and bad times.
"I thank them all because without them it would not be possible,"
Dame Carol said.
The news of her award came as a surprise to her on Wednesday.
"I had basically forgotten about it until coming into town the day
after my son-in-law's funeral and people congratulating me for the
award so I was taken by surprise by the announcement," Dame Carol
said.
She paid tribute to her son in law, the late Kirara Uakai whose
funeral service was held on the day of the announcement adding
that her award was in fact achieved by her whole family.
"No one could achieve such accolade without the support of many
people and he was one special one of those people that was always
there to provide backup doing the many mundane essential household
things that are needed for a busy person in a public position,"
Dame Carol said.
Dame Carol Kidu is indeed a woman of courage and an inspiration to
many Papua New Guineans. She is the only women Member of
Parliament who has served two consecutive terms.
In November 2002 she tried to intervene when police booted the
head and stomach of a 14 year old boy who snatched someone's
handbag. She was pushed by the policemen and fell down.
"When I tied to intervene I was physically pushed over by the
policemen and told 'you people cause the problems, get out of
here. I fell down, but I did not make a complaint because I
understand the problems that the police are faced with," she told
a Grievances Debate in parliament in March 2003.
At the same debate she told of a young man with an amputated leg
who was shot dead by police while running from a scene of crime.
Witnesses said he was not involved in the crime but was shot dead
by police.
She was angered by police brutality against youth and has spoken
up against it in parliament and has called for the establishment
of a human rights commission to protect citizens.
Dame Carol has also been outspoken against sexual harassment of
women in the work force and concerned about the future of school
drop outs. She has always stressed that children be taught peace
and harmony at an early age.
When PNG was feeling the effects of a financial crisis in 2002,
Dame Carol said it was time for hard decisions.
She urged a cut in the budget in other sectors but not
continuously on the social sector because she said it would become
self destructive.
She wrote a book "A remarkable journey". It reflected her love for
her husband, the late and first PNG's Chief Justice Sir Buri Kidu
and his country PNG and her choice as a white woman to marry a
black man and to be part of PNG culture and life.
"Since I was a young child I have been driven by a passion for
social justice which I acquired in the first school for life -my
home with a close family that had a strong social conscience. I
therefore pay tribute to my family of birth who have always
supported me in my life in a different world from them. I know my
mothers and sister who were here for the funeral were very proud
to read about the award," she said.
"She deserves it," her mother Dorothy Millwater said on Wednesday
when commenting on the award.
Dame Carol said her drive to pursue issues of social justice is a
direct result of her coming to PNG to Pari village 40 years ago in
1966 with her husband.
"I entered a proud, dignified community who had control of their
lives, their land their resources. With them I experienced the
pain of rapid change that affected Pari village and their struggle
to survive as a marginalized but still proud indigenous people of
the capital city of PNG.
"I remember the wisdom of my late mother in law and other elders
who taught me so much and I know that they would want me to
continue to fight for a better life for their people," Dame Carol
said.
Dame Carol said one of her great achievements has been in the area
of advocacy and action for marginalized and disadvantaged groups.
"Building a bridge for the marginalized masses in the informal
sector of education and business to become recognized as an
extremely important part of mainstream PNG society; advocating
persistently on the universal of human rights for all, with a
focus on women, young children and disabled and infected people or
affected by the HIV epidemic.
And she added that she nags constantly and successfully at the NEC
level "To ensure that a long neglected ministry will no longer be
neglected because it is a ministry that is about the heart of our
society -the family and community," Dame Carol said.
Lady Kidu was nominated on recommendation from the US Embassy who
had recognized her tireless efforts in fighting against poverty,
HIV AIDS and social issues.
A text from a letter relating to Dame Carol's award sent by the
United States Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs
Paula Dobriansky read;
"On behalf of the US Department of State, I would like to
congratulate you on your selection by Embassy Port Moresby as part
of an important group, international women of courage. We honour
you for your exceptional courage and leadership in advocating
women's rights and advancement in your nation. Your achievements
have helped to create transformative change within your country
and have set a positive example for emerging leaders worldwide.
"As Secretary Rice noted, "Women of courage are standing up for
freedom and human dignity, and the United States stands with them.
We must not forget that the advance of women's rights and the
advance of human liberty go hand in hand." As we observe
International Women's Day 2007, I thank you for your contributions
in furthering the cause of freedom, justice, peace and equality."
Dame Carol said her gut feeling about social issues affecting her
electorate and PNG as a whole is that there is a very long journey
ahead and the potential to take wrong roads is enormous.
"The impact of socio-economic and cultural globalization and rapid
urbanization worldwide is huge. In a nation like PNG, where the
majority do not have the education to analyse and benefit from the
impact, the social results can be devastating. These social
impacts are often related to the economic impact of globalization
in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and more
dependent on the rich, thus creating a growing vicious cycle of
poverty and dependency. We are seeing that now in PNG," Dame Carol
said.
But on a positive note she said Papua New Guineans are talented
and resilient and they are the owners of the resources.
"Giving them new knowledge, skills and capacities at the family
and community level to adapt and benefit from change must be
number one priority for any government," Dame Carol said.
"To be honest, many times I feel like giving up the struggle and
returning to a peaceful and private life but when my work is
recognized by a prestigious international award such as this, it
inspires me to keep going because I know that my work is not
complete. I encourages me when I know that internationally my
small contributions to a better future for PNG are being
recognized," Dame Carol said.
 
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