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By HARLYNE JOKU
WOMEN expressed disappointment yesterday
when Parliament postponed the debate on the petition presented by
Community Development Minister Dame Carol Kidu on violence against
women.
Instead, parliament went ahead to present its K1.6 billion supplementary
budget, which was passed overwhelmingly by both the Government and
Opposition.
More than a hundred women dressed in black and wearing white ribbons
symbolising silent protest against violence rose and left parliament
grounds disappointed.
They said there was no clear indication of support to their petition
from their MPs.
Outside Parliament, several women interviewed said they wished the MPs
had expressed themselves in debate over the issue so they could be aware
of what the leaders think about the issue.
Dame Carol recommended in the petition that leaders act to stop violence
against women.
She referred to recent reports in the media that a man had beaten up his
wife accusing her of an affair and clawed the baby out of her womb.
Then, the man allegedly poured boiling water over the woman to put her
to sleep.
Dame Carol had also referred to men’s other atrocities to women.
Over 4,000 women signed the petition and more were expected to follow
suit.
Women representing various organisations sent their representatives to
parliament including the president of the National Women’s Council
scholar Kakas and Tiffany Nonggorr, the president of Susu Mamas.
Ms Kakas said the silent protest was for a good cause and that women
throughout the country were fed up of the violence against them.
She said it was a pity that the MPs could not entertain the petition
because the timing may not right, but she added that 30,000 to 40,000
signatures were expected.
Mrs Nonggorr said the silent protest action was about women bondage
which was a “beginning of a greater task and challenge”.
She said for many years, successive governments had not done anything to
pass appropriate legislation stopping the crime against women.
Two men spoke in support of the women outside Parliament.
One was Reverend Joshua Daimoi, the head of the Christian Leaders
Training College, and the other was from the Salvation Army Captain John
Kerari.
Rev Daimoi said people should not take life easily but seriously, and
should have a lot more human dignity.
Capt Kerari appealed to good men to stand up and join their women in the
fight against violence.
 
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