Plea for husband-killers

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
CORRECTIONAL Services Minister Win Bakri Daki wants the Government to re-introduce the Power of Mercy provision as a remedy for gender-based violence (GBV) victims and survivors.
He said there were 208 women prisoners in PNG jails out of which 179 were serving time for killing their husbands.
“The hubby-killers are into their fifth and eighth year of imprisonment in seven prisons,” he added.
Daki told the two-day parliamentary inquiry into GBV that some women were also awaiting their trial.
The alarming statistics has forced Daki to urge the Government to re-introduce the provision.
“The provision will see the release of women prisoners who are not a threat to communities and societies.
“Most of the women prisoners are in prison with their children. When I visited the prisons, most of the women prisoners lamented how they were incarcerated.
“One told me her husband decided to get a second wife and he treated her differently to his second wife.
“She was forced to work extra hard, and in anger, she killed him,” Daki said.
“Another prisoner lamented that she was assaulted daily, and decided that she had enough of the beatings and killed her husband.
“Her three children are now living with relatives while she served time.
“These women need our help.
“They know what they did was wrong, but if they were given the services that they needed, they would not be in the position they are in now.
“I am now looking into ensuring that we provide active participation by partners and faith-based organisations for restoration of fragmented relationships and mending family ties for reconciliation and resettlement. “There must be greater collaborative effort from
the Government and other implementing agencies to work together to remedy the issues.
“CS (Correctional Service) will reorganise and allow for stakeholders and partnerships to work with us in finding lasting solutions to deal with GBV perpetrators in custody.
“This will lead to rehabilitating and addressing the dilemma facing GBV victims and survivors,” he added.