Churches taking new approach in addressing GBV in communities

National
Rev Roger Joseph

ONE way of addressing gender based violence (GBV) in the country is through early childhood learning, a church leader says.
General secretary of the Papua New Guinea council of churches (PNGCC) Reverend Roger Joseph said the seven mainline churches in partnership with the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) and other stakeholders would be taking a new approach in addressing the issue.
“Target schools from now on,” he said. “If we want to change the future, first we must start with the children who are the future.”
During a recent workshop by mainline churches in Port Moresby to discuss strategies to address GBV, Joseph urged the churches to create a learning space for the younger generation.
He said this was a new approach by the council and its alliance.
“All forms of GBV are happening everywhere in our country,” he said.
“If nothing was done now to address that, life would be disastrous for the future generation.
“We have a bigger alliance now after signing a memorandum of understanding with the NCD Commission together with the Department of Justice and Attorney General to look at all possible options to tackle GBV.”
He said although it would not be possible to eradicate GBV altogether, every effort made was worth saving a life.
“It’s a very big behavioural problem that is affecting our society,” he said.
“Teaching ethics and moral principles to children at the early stages was key to minimising the alarming rate at which GBV cases were rising in PNG.”