Take into account women’s petition

AS a responsible leader, I call on the Somare-Temu Government to consider seriously the women’s plea presented to Parliament on Oct 8.
The MPs must pass appropriate and stronger legislation to stop crime against women. Such crimes are on the rise and our wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, girlfriends and women relatives are living in fear.
The non-debate of the women’s plea if deliberately done, is an insult to many Papua New Guineans.
Violence against women is not limited to PNG. It is a problem worldwide.
The most common forms of violence against women are:
*Wife beating – leaving many with serious body injuries, hospitalisation or even death;
*Marital rape;
*Physical abuse of daughters by parents;
*Sexual abuse of children by close family members (incest) or by members of the household;
*Sexual harassment or rape of babysitters and domestic workers, and physical assault between co-wives in polygamous marriages; and
n Forcing wives and sometimes children into prostitution.
Sexual violence in PNG is on the rise. Rapes and gang rapes are increasing and have reached the point where many women live in a state of fear, especially in towns and in areas of tribal fighting.
Women are also frequently harassed sexually, even raped, by person in authority such as employers and by those who, they (women) turn to for help in crises.
On the social and economical impacts, sexual violence and violence against women have serious consequences for individuals, families, communities and the development of the nation as a whole.
I stress here that family and sexual violence against women are a huge drain on the nation’s already overburdened services such as health, police, courts, prisons, probation and welfare.
Forced sex with wives, other women and girls (many under 10-year-old) is a major factor in the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS. This form of violence is not accidental but intentionally caused, and therefore, avoidable.
Our women should not be seen as community property, but recognised and given the same respect as men. Women in PNG and the whole world over today are proving that they are just as capable or even better in some professional fields that their male counterparts.

Simon Wama
Vanimo