Lovers’ fight highlighted

 By HELEN TARAWA 

DOMESTIC violence is prevalent among students at tertiary institutions and needs to be addressed, says Secretary for Community Development and Religion Anna Solomon.

Solomon in a lunch-hour meeting with students from the University of Technology yesterday said one of the biggest concerns that the students had raised was the relationship issue.

“One of the biggest concerns which I have found out through this women’s forum and from talking to them is the relationship issue, boyfriend and girlfriend issue.

“They are seeing domestic violence happening there and nothing is being done about it. They get scared that when they report the person gets expelled or is suspended.

“Those issues are there at the university and they have raised it with me. How can I best assist them but at the same time empower them with the knowledge of the law and the policies that are there,” she said.

Solomon said one of the ways was to get the students to assist the department in disseminating the information because they had to understand the content of the information.

“The content of the information basically tells them what is right, what is the law and the actions they take that will go against the law. Many of them need to understand that,” Solomon said. 

“That is the way I’m trying to see how best we can engage these university students so it’s a win-win situation for them and to also take out to the communities as well.”

The students were among the many participants from all over the country and abroad who are attending the 2016 PNG Women’s Forum in Port Moresby.

Solomon said that in order to fully involve the students in their programmes her department would have to write to the authorities at the university.