Focus on improving law, order

EVERYONE in Papua New Guinea should have the freedom to move around freely.
Unfortunately, that statement has been repeatedly uttered and will soon become another overly used phrase.
Over Christmas throughout the country, reports of violence, robbery, gang rape, murder and the list goes seemed to be on the occurrence book at various police stations and post.
It is unfair that, especially women, in PNG do not experience the freedom they deserve because men do not protect and respect them.
Women in some countries walk around freely without being assaulted or intimidated while the same cannot be for women in PNG.
In East Sepik, a woman was gang raped and the perpetrators had the nerve to warn her against reporting the incident.
Then we have a senior research officer with the Law Reform Commission raping his 12-year-old niece.
On Boxing Day in Port Moresby, a 24-year-old woman was stabbed on the back between 5pm-6pm.
She had gone to a nearby canteen to buy noodles. She was held up on her way back to the hostel where she is renting and living.
The perpetrators asked her for money which she gave them and they tried to snatch her phone as well.
In the midst of defending herself, she was slashed on her arm and stabbed in the back missing her lungs by inches with the pointed knife blade.
She is fighting for her life at the hospital.
Everyone comes from a family, so obviously all perpetrators have female relatives including a mother so one would wonder if they ever think that what if the same is done to their own.
But then again, that will be asking too much of these sick individuals.
All law-abiding and right-thinking citizens should now be sickened by incidents of attacks not only on females but also on young vulnerable boys.
PNG is a country full of resources and many opportunities but the biggest problem is law and order.
A society that does not protect the vulnerable especially women is a failed society.
Every time a woman moves out of the comfort of their home/office, their heads are tilted to see who is walking up beside or behind and for some the grip tightens on their bag or purse pressing it towards your body.
Why do we do that?
Even a female driver has to be on full alert all the time when on the road.
Why? If this is the scenario we have today, what will it be like for our daughters in 10 – 20 years’ time?
Would this sick trend have improved by then or would it be worse off?
Our only resort is the law and we should ensure the perpetrators are identified and brought to justice and hope the courts will apply the most severe punishment allowed by law on them.
This is the responsibility of every Papua New Guinean, but the vast majority of us have manifestly failed to fulfil our duty.
All of us are guilty to different degrees, ranging from turning a blind eye to those heinous crimes, not speaking out against them or leaving the problem to be dealt with by parents, teachers, guardians, police, social workers or counsellors who are already overwhelmed.
Prime Minister James Marape is asking all citizens to commit to improve law and order going into 2020.
We all have to do more.
We have to be watchful, protective, and speak out about what we know or observe.