Women fight for recognition

 THE Southern Highlands Council of Women has finally appointed its president to lead the fight for recognition of women.

Gloria Rami is the new president, Veveli Olesi her deputy, Roselyn Walbo secretary and Janet Terry the treasurer appointed in an election last Tuesday.

Rami said a board was in place and included two women representatives from churches.

She said the organisation had existed in the past but did not do much but today it had had strong Christian mothers who worked hard to make sure work.

Rami said they would adjust to the new structure and work in line with the medium term development goals so that women in the province were empowered.

“Southern Highlands is one of the provinces with the highest rate of gender violence, most happening in the remote areas as many are unreported due to difficult geographical locations,” she said.

She said violence against women and young girls was growing and that was a major barrier to Papua New Guinea’s social, political and economic development.

Deputy president Veveli Olesi said the council of women was created to stand for the rights of every women around the country and every stake holders and government agencies have a role to play to promote gender equality.

“Young girls in Southern Highlands are going to school and after dropping out they are forced to get married. That has become a norm,” she said.