Time to change mindset on gender violence

Letters, Normal
Source:

The National, Monday November 2nd, 2015

 PAPUA New Guinea will not achieve its development goals and aspiration if the society does not change the culture and its perspective on women and how they are being treated. 

Gender based violence and family sexual violence seem to have been normalised by society despite its detrimental effects on the family and the country’s economic and social development. 

It is not a surprise when the US ambassador recently pointed out that PNG had failed to achieve all its Millennium Development Goals. 

Who is to be blamed for failing to achieving the goals? 

There is always tendency to point fingers at our politicians without realising that there are certain aspects of our cultural practices that are keep us back instead of moving forward.  

The cultural practice of glorifying violence and treating women as not equal is a myth which proves us wrong. 

Women are integral part of the society, and should be seen as equal partner and treated with dignity and respect and allows their participation and contribution. 

Despite it being stipulated on the preamble of our constitution for equality and participation it does not really materialised.   

Society must change its traditional cultural lens that sees women, with prejudice and discrimination with a contemporary lens that treats them as human. 

We need to filter our cultural practices and do away with harmful practices that are of no relevance and significance to the contemporary world. 

The onus is on everyone, especially men, to challenge these norms and change their perception on how they see and treat the opposite sex. 

 

John G Pato 

Goroka, EHP