Let us fight domestic violence

IT seems weeks or only days in between that a case of domestic violence breaks into news coverage, often with anguishing details and sometimes tragic result.
Domestic violence ruins lives.
For every high-profile case, more victims die shrouded in silence.
Countless others endure the daily torture of not knowing when it will happen again.
Domestic violence is real.
It is not like the movies or television: It is ugly and abusive and destroys families.
It is never acceptable.
It is never justifiable.
Far too often we as neighbours, family, friends and fellow Papua New Guineas fail to see it.
Even worse, we turn a blind eye.
It is time to shine a light on domestic violence. What better time than this month – October – which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Annually, the Family Sexual Violence Action Committee advocates for a nationwide awareness campaign to end domestic violence.
Awareness is important.
We must continue to drive home the message that violence isn’t acceptable.
All of us bear a responsibility to help stop it and if we suspect someone is being abuse, we shouldn’t turn a blind eye.
It is naive to believe that we can reach some of those who have turned the people they are supposed to love and nurture into their victims.
They are tormented and tortured for years until, perhaps, that person summons up enough courage to get the help she needs to leave.
The most twisted abusers will see this act of self-preservation, leaving, as the greatest affront and insult and won’t rest until they have finally taken everything from their victim.
As a society, we need better answers for this.
Domestic violence is one of the most-complex and dangerous crimes in our society.
Awareness is a crucial first step to stamping it out.
Working aggressively towards legal protections should be part of the conversation.
Regrettably, in PNG, the economic cost of domestic violence has not been documented for us to know how much we spend a year fighting it.
Dozens of women have been murdered in PNG through domestic violence.
This has prompted a belated burst of national soul-searching as leaders – put on the spot by demands for action – struggle to rise to the challenge.
In PNG, statistics from studies conducted show that two in three women are victims of domestic violence.
This means that more than 80 per cent of our women are experiencing and suffering from physical, sexual and psychological violence at the hands of their partners.
Domestic violence is no longer a private matter and is a crime punishable by law.
Domestic violence affects the rights of individuals and restricts their access to wealth, opportunities and privileges in society.
It is a social injustice
By placing domestic violence atop the national agenda, we can expose and erase the dark underside of home life, while helping victims find the warmth and optimism they deserve.
We need to make people more familiar with this problem.
Providing knowledge about options available to victims and their loved ones are key goals of this annual observance.