Outlaw polygamy

WOMEN in Eastern Highlands want polygamy to be outlawed and done away with once and for all.
Vocal women leader Betty Benson from Asaro in the Daulo district raised the concern this week during a training workshop for first women magistrates in Goroka.
Speaking on behalf of other concerned women in the province and eight districts, Mrs Benson said given the increasing cases of family violence triggered by husbands they want polygamy practice to be outlawed.
She openly aired frustrations at senior officers from the law and justice sector programme and Eastern Highlands village court secretariat who were assisting in their two weeks training.
“Family violence and wife beating emerge after husbands are out with friends meet new so-called wives and girlfriends, the wives and children at home are poor innocent always at the receiving ends of violent husbands and fathers.
“They think of their new so-called wives, girlfriends and mistreat us, forgetting that we are the base for good foundation of brighter future,” Mrs Benson said.
“Despite all we did to contribute to build our husbands and fathers up over the years, they drop us to go for new wives, therefore we would like the practice of polygamy to be done away with once and for all,” she added.
Mrs Benson said although polygamy was an acceptable customary practice in the highlands, as we move into the rapidly changing world it is about time polygamy should be outlawed.