RESEARCH conducted in Papua New Guinea and other parts of the world has linked the spread of HIV/AIDS to low status of women and high rates of family and sexual violence, members of the business and professional women (BPW) group revealed.
They said those who deny the link were clearly helping the virus to spread.
“If Papua New Guinea is to avoid the devastation that hit African countries, we need to act now before it is too late,” the group said, adding that already, many Papua New Guineans were dying of AIDS.
Referring to recent media reports of savage attacks on women and the various offences of sexual and physical violence committed on girls, members of BPW said “We were failing future generations if we don’t act quickly to stop the violence.
“We have had the slogan ‘say no to violence’ and “stap isi” for so long, but the message does not seem to be heard or acted on,” the group pointed out.
It said the situation can change if we change our attitudes which will then lead to a change in behaviour.
“There was hope for our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunties and daughters. But that hope will only be realised if we join together so that the one voice becomes a roar.
“We should not leave the talking to the non-governmental organisations (NGOs), or just a few individuals.
“We should all speak out and do something positive to break the cycle of violence.
“Last year, the Amnesty International report on violence said that violence against women was not inevitable, and it was never acceptable.
“Everyone, man, woman and child, needs to speak out against violence in every area of life.”
They said in PNG, violence could be physical, verbal, social, sexual, financial, or emotional while some forms of violence were criminal offences.