More needs to be done on GBV

GENDER-based violence (GBV) has been increasing at an
alarming rate in Papua New Guinea as the population grows well ahead of economic growth and socio-economic issues mount.
GBV is a blight upon individuals, families and communities and unless arrested, it has the potential to destroy person and familial growth and cohesion and seriously undermine development efforts to grow and prosper the nation.
Growth and prosperity are dependent upon the peace and security that individuals find at home and in the community.
Destroy that and we invite hatred, discord, disunity and mayhem.
It is so important that all efforts are made to find the causes for GBV and having found them, to pull them up root and stem, throw them away and prevent their further growth.
Nothing can be more detrimental to efforts at creating a peaceful society than violence and hatred introduced repeatedly at the hub of love – in the home – and between the progenitors of love – a family.
It requires collective effort and partnership from the government, international partners and all sectors of the nation to effectively address this issue.
In 2013, a “National Haus Krai” was held at the end of which a petition was presented to the then prime minister Peter O’Neill.
In response, the Government repealed sections 229 and 347(b) of the Criminal Code, which now allows for stronger penalties for sorcery- related wilful murder and for aggravated rape.
It has also passed the Family Protection Act and the Human Trafficking law.
The Government also led a collaborative effort to draft the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence.
The strategy guides all stakeholders to implement all legislations, policies and programmes.
Much has happened.
Gender-based violence and gender equity are gaining recognition and status.
There is a Gesi officer in most Government departments and agencies.
A special parliamentary committee has inquired into gender-based violence and there are many champions of the cause in Parliament including NCD Governor Powes Parkop, East Sepik Governor Allan Bird and Northern Governor Gary Juffa.
While these developments have been heartening, much more remains to be done.
Domestic violence, including sexual violence, discrimination, and nepotism and cronyism based on gender and minority status continue unabated.
No reliable data is available to determine trends, but the evidence as presented in media reports and word of mouth and in daily occurrences would seem that the problems are increasing despite the growing recognition of the problem.
This would suggest that recognition of the problem and taking positive preventive action remain at a distance from each other. Unless this gap is closed, there exists the danger that this effort will be regarded as merely academic and
will fade out of public consciousness and conscience as soon as funding ceases and special efforts by interested groups wane.
This calls for continued and increased efforts to make sure the campaign is sustained, long term and inclusive.
The urgent task at hand is to continue the public campaign in order to drive it from mere recognition to ownership of the message.
People must be sufficiently emboldened to take preventive action wherever the ugly head of gender-based violence rears up.
They must be sufficiently resolved to consciously resist the urge to resort to violence once it takes hold of them.