Keen to help end violence

AUSTRALIA Awards student Melkie Anton is a male advocate working to try to end violence against women – a shared challenge for Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Male advocates campaign against family violence through community awareness and education.
According to the Australian High Commission, this work is as important with reports that restrictions and pressures associated with the Covid-19 pandemic are in some cases exacerbating family violence.
Anton, who is undertaking a Master of Development Studies at the University of Melbourne, says his motivations for becoming a male advocate started at a young age.
Anton shares his story – and explains why ending violence against women and girls – is everybody’s business.
“My mother was my motivation to become a male advocate,” Anton said.
“From an early age, I saw first-hand what it means to be a single mother to two little boys. My mother took on the role of being a father and mother at the same time.
“I could sense the struggle she endured to ensure we received the best of what’s left, after my father left with another woman.
“She didn’t complain or allow her past to rob her of charting a new way of life for us. I saw her bravery, intelligence and leadership in taking control of the household and looking after not only us, but her younger brothers and sisters as well. My mother had come out of an abusive relationship and endured hardship to make ends meet for both of us. Unfortunately, the challenges became too great and she had to give me up to her younger sister and husband to adopt as an infant. Throughout my childhood and adolescent years, I noticed more and more how violence affected my family and those around me.
“It evoked a desire in me that was there from the very beginning. I knew violence was wrong and I wanted to do something about it.
“I have forgiven my father and realise my experiences growing up have helped me focus on the task of male advocacy and speaking out against gender-based violence.
“Deep down, I realised that no one, including women and girls, should be violated in any way.
Unfortunately, this has been a familiar story for many women and girls across Papua New Guinea, who continue to experience various forms of violence, mostly at the hands of male perpetrators.
“Since then, I was looking for that moment or opportunity to take more action in preventing it and in 2009, I was selected to attend the first male advocacy training in Papua New Guinea.”