Official: Tackle GBV at the root

By VANESSA NIKEN
MOTHERS should raise their children to understand that there is no room for gender-based violence (GBV) in life and society, European Union head of operations Rene Mally says.
“GBV perpetrators have been raised by mothers,” he said.
“So this long-standing social problem must be addressed at the root.”
Speaking at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Human Rights Defenders Association and Enga Sori Mama Association on Friday, Mally said there
were many ways to address GBV and one way was to raise children to
reject violence. “It is really not easy to stand up against all these (violence), and I admire you all for trying,” he said.
“It is easy to just say ‘okay what can we do’, or do nothing.”
Mally said it was really sad for women and girls to not feel safe at home or in the public.
“When I attended my maiden GBV event, the data was 80 per cent of women in Port Moresby fear to take public transport,” he said.
“I also read that about 70 per cent of women think that their husband has the right to beat them.
“That is a big problem.
“Since PNG is a Christian country, according to the Bible, women and men are created equal by God.
“Therefore, every woman has a measurable worth and value.
“This is a massive problem and you all have to make the difference.
“You need to have courage because there are obstacles to overcome and to persevere.”