Group wants compensation outlawed

A HUMAN rights advocacy group has called on the Government to outlaw the traditional compensation practice especially in cases involving violence against women and girls.
Members of the Human Rights Defender Association conducted a peaceful march yesterday to show their support for a ban on such practices.
Association president Linder Tule urged the government to listen to their plea and see that justice is served on the victims of violence in the country.
“We want the government to make policies and laws to defend our human rights in terms of violence,” she said.
“The traditional compensation system has been practised over the years and has been part of our lifestyle today. Disputes in the form of violence are solved through compensation.”
She said violence had been witnessed but justice had not been served.
“This has become a norm for people these days to see and hear about women dying and the perpetrator gets away with it through compensation,” she said. Deputy Prime Minister Davis Steven who received the group’s petition said the traditional compensation system had been protecting perpetrators and the human rights of individuals had been negated.
“The world is changing globally and we need to stop traditional systems that will manipulate our human rights,” he said.
Association team leader Cathy Amaiu told The National that every month, around 750 cases of gender-based violence were recorded.
She said five women allegedly killed by their husbands remained in the Port Moresby General Hospital morgue.
Police are still investigating the cases.
“We cannot take it anymore. We have to stand up and do something to get our leaders’ attention and to work together to achieve zero tolerance on violence in the country,” she said.
Amaiu said there had been too many stories of violence against women and children
The association hopes that Parliament will discuss its petition during its next sitting.