Study claims many women abused in PNG

EXCERPTS from a report published by the University of Canberra which says that 58% of PNG women were physically abused, were used to educate men on the effects of sexual abuse.
Other figures given were that 56% suffered physical abuse, 45% financial abuse, and 44% sexual, and 36% were socially isolated by controlling men.
The reported, compiled after studies in four provinces, was cited by the COMPASS (Community Outreach Men’s Programme Advocacy and Sexual Health Services) project during a four-day workshop in Lae, Morobe, last Thursday.
Excerpts from the study in Western Highlands, Western and NCD and Lae in 2007 and updated in 2008 by Lewis, Maruia, Mills and Walker, which tried to show links between HIV/AIDS and violence against women were used to train 10 men from the districts.
The men were trained by New Zealand consultant Garth Baker of Grey Matter Research and Diane Ryan programme coordinator of COMPASS project.
 Participant Patrick Kaigung said he learnt that “women suffered distress, pain, long-term fear, shame and unhappiness” from abuse.
He said he would return to his home in Finschhafen and educate men and boys at the hausman.
Morris Kate, a village court magistrate  and an adult literacy worker at 10-Mile in Lae, said he would work with males to help them understand their behaviour affected the wellbeing of their family and community.