Tackling violence against women

The National Editorial

ORANGE the world is the message from the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign that started on Friday (Nov 25).
The idea is to use the colour designated by the UNiTE campaign to symbolise a brighter future without violence.
All member countries have been urged to organise events to orange streets, schools and landmarks!
The day also launches the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign which is a global campaign dedicated to ending gender-based violence.
It runs each year from Nov 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to Dec 10: Human Rights Day.
The 16 Days Campaign is dedicated to:

  • RAISING awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue;
  • STRENGTHENING local work around violence against women;
  • PROVIDING a forum to develop and share strategies;
  • DEMONSTRATING the solidarity of activists around the world; and,
  • CALLING governments to account, respond, protect, and prevent violence against women.

Based on the global advocacy on gender based violence, in PNG, the activism events adopted decided to highlight children’s issues during the marking of the events and since 2003 observed, 20 Days Activism.
It encompassed the aim for engaging civil society on ending violence against women and children; increased efforts to combat HIV/AIDS epidemic including upholding rights of people living with the virus; upholding rights of people with special needs; building awareness on the right to have a society free of corruption and on human rights issues.
In 2022, the campaign has a dedicated focus on ending femicide, also referred to as the gender-related killing of women and girls.
The 16-day activism usually kicks off with the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women (Nov 25); World AIDS Day (Dec 1); International Day for People with Special Needs (Dec 3); International Volunteers Day (Dec 5); International Anti-Corruption Day (Dec 9); and, International Human Rights Day (Dec 10).
The PNG Council of Churches started the 16-day activism to advocate ending violence against women and girls with the white-flag march indicating peace to break the silence and end violence against women and girls in all forms.
For PNG, two key messages are violence towards women and children is never acceptable.
Those who are being abused or subjected to abuse must know it is okay to ask for help and the community must know it is okay to offer help.
No violence is tolerable.
If you know someone who is being frightened or intimidated by the behaviour of someone else, it is not okay.
The 20-day of activities organised in PNG must be supported by all concerned stakeholders including business houses, schools and the Government.
Activities must be organised to raise public awareness and mobilise people everywhere to bring about change.
One of the major challenges to efforts to prevent and end violence against women and girls in PNG and the worldwide is the substantial funding shortfall.
As a result, resources for initiatives to prevent and end violence against women and girls are severely lacking.
Frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals, which includes a specific target on ending violence against women and girls, offer huge promise, but must be adequately funded in order to bring real and significant changes in the lives of women and girls.
Here in PNG, there must zero tolerance in our nation for violence against women, and community leaders must do more to help victims rather than supporting perpetrators.
And what a perfect timing for the National Government to increase public awareness aimed at preventing domestic violence it is, to join the 20 Days Activism.
All business houses should come on board and together with the Government paint the cities and towns orange.