Police reach out to Markham communities

The National National
Morobe FSVU coordinator Snr Sgt Ruth Murup talking to people at Watarais in Markham about gender-based violence and child abuse. – Nationalpic by EHEYUC SESERU

By EHEYUC SESERU
LAE police have reached out to women along the Lae-Markham section of the Highlands Highway about reporting violence and crime, especially against them and children, on the police toll-free number.
Mothers Wama Johannes and Kinganu Yakap, from Wantoat in Markham, said they had never heard about the number they could call for police assistance even though they were longtime residents of the 40-Mile area.
“We just learnt about the number,” Johannes said.
“So we will call police for advice and assistance when we have problems in the community or with our children.
“We have issues in our households, our adult children disobeying advice and not listening to instructions.
“Sometimes our husbands get mad over little things and bash us with the children.
“It’s always jealousy that makes them angry and they bash us.”
Yakap said they were sometimes attacked by neighbouring communities.
“We sometimes get attacked by mobs with properties destroyed and houses burnt,” she said.
“This number will be helpful to us to report crimes against us and our children.
“My son is into church activities, but if we encounter any crime against us (women) or our children, we will use the number to get help.”
Lae police have been using the Digicel toll-free number 70903300 for members of the community to seek help on.
They said this after Morobe Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee (FSVAC) conducted awareness on children’s rights, child abuse and gender-based violence, domestic and sorcery-related accusation violence (Sarv) last Friday.
The awareness focused mostly on child sexual abuse and forced labour and was held at Watarais junction, Umi, Mutzing and 40-Mile markets.
FSVAC consisted of Police Family and Sexual Violence Unit (FSVU), Australian Federal Police (AFP) and consulate-general staff, Correctional Services, welfare, community development, civil society and faith-based organisations, the Women’s Council and human rights defenders.
FSVU coordinator Senior Sergeant Ruth Murup said there was a prevalence of gender-based and child sexual abuses cases that they wanted people to know about and help address.