Bride price seen as major cause of gender violence

THE payment of bride price has contributed to the rise in gender-based violence against women and girls in the country, according to Lady Anna Dadae.
Lady Anna, wife of Governor-General Sir Bob, said the exchange of materials in bride-price ceremonies had lessened the value of weddings in church.
She was addressing the synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea at Mogl village in the Sinesine-Yongomugl district, Chimbu, last Friday,
Lady Anna said problems, money and polygamy also contributed to violence.
“Most parents and guardians prefer bride price than church wedding because of materialism,” she said. “Such marriages hardly last. They have become a breeding ground for violence.”
She said that half of the female prisoners she had visited in jail had killed their husband’s new wife.
She said it was a challenge to church leaders to find solutions to the problem.
Lady Anna also called on the church on have more awareness programmes on sorcery allegations.
She also noted that witchcraft was an impediment to service delivery.
She said prayer was the solution to addressing violence against women.