Campaign focuses on ending violence against women

NEXT Tuesday will mark the start of a 20-day campaign most significant to PNG to stop violence against women and children.
“It is a time for everybody to stand up, speak up and say no to violence against women and children and to advocate and make people aware of the rights and freedom to exercise those rights as enshrined in the national constitution,” says Family and Sexual Violence action committee (FSVAC) national coordinator Marcia Kalinoe.
The theme for this year’s campaign is, “Act now to end gender-based violence in the world of work: Lead, speak, support, action”.
The 20 days of human rights activism, according to Kalinoe is an opportunity to call for collective actions to end gender-based violence and other forms of injustice and to set response and prevention strategies for justice to prevail.
Kalinoe said the theme signified the issues that were happening in all areas of work, whether in the formal or informal jobs, or in the home environment during everyday household chores.
“When we say to end GBV in the world of work, we are not only referring to those in the workforce with formal employment, it is inclusive of all other jobs that is performed by individuals whether in the streets, in markets, in farms or gardens and at home,” Kalinoe said.
“It refers to our very livelihood and what we do every day to sustain our families.”