Committee upset over woman’s rape

 A COMMITTEE for disabled people in Western Highlands is concerned about the assault on disadvantaged members of the community in the province.

Western Highlands provincial disability committee chairman John Kup said offences such as rape on disabled people and others were now common. 

Kup said a hearing-impaired woman was reportedly raped recently after attending a function at Lumusa in the Mul-Baiyer electorate.

“She cannot name her attackers because she is deaf,” he said.

He said it was a concern to the committee because she should have been protected by the people of her clan and tribe.

“Rape is like murdering someone and should not happen to any female whether able or disabled,” he said.

Kup said disabled people should be included in community awareness on offences such as rape.

He said a young girl was thrown into a fire outside Kerowagi and a mother was tortured in Mt Hagen which showed that the province was not safe for women.

“I appeal to government officers, media representatives and citizens of the province to report all wrongdoings to police immediately,” he said.