RESEARCH done in Papua New Guinea and other countries shows a direct link between the spread of HIV with the low status of women and high incidence of family and sexual violence, it was revealed yesterday.
And PNG was warned that if it hoped to avoid the devastation that AIDS had caused to African countries, it must act now.
“Many Papua New Guineans are already dying of AIDS – we need to act now before it is too late,” Miku Singin Agarobe of Business and Professional Women (BPW) said.
She said many women had been beaten on the streets while members of the public looked on and did nothing to help.
“Our national pride should stop such things from happening,” she said in a statement to commemorate International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women on Sunday
She regretted that many people were not heeding the slogan “Say No to Violence”.
Ms Agarobe hoped that “big men” including politicians, business leaders and sportsmen would be “big enough” to join the campaign to make Papua New Guinea a safe and better society for everyone.
She said she could not believe that people who bashed, maimed or killed women could feel good about themselves.
“Men will also benefit if there is less violence in our society,” she said.