Violence an ‘emergency’

 FAMILY and sexual violence is a medical and humanitarian emergency in the country, according to a United Nations official.

The rate in Papua New Guinea is among the highest in the world, according to a recent UN Partners for Prevention study.

The study revealed that the sexual experience of one in five women was rape.

It noted that one third of men had been sexually abused during childhood.

The European Union committed almost K5 million to assist the victims of gender and sex-based violence in Papua New Guinea. 

The funds will be used to provide victims with appropriate medical and psychological assistance.

Head of the EU Delegation in Port Moresby, Ambassador Martin Dihm said: “Victims of family and sexual violence deserve our full solidarity and support. This programme will help to provide improved access for the victims to medical and psychological care.”

The EU funds are being channelled through the European Commission’s Humanitarian and Civil Protection department to Médecins Sans Frontières which is providing comprehensive medical treatment and psychosocial care to the victims. 

The funds are meant to increase the services provision in the different locations where MSF is working, starting with Port Moresby, Tari and Maprik.

“In addition, we want to raise the awareness among local institutions and partners of the urgent need to address this scourge,” Dhim said.

He said a rapid medical response can prevent life-threatening medical consequences. 

The report said the number of incidents of rape and intimate-partner violence was one of the world’s highest.