Women firm against violence

 By FRANCIS ULIAU in Kimbe

WOMEN in West New Britain took to the streets in Kimbe yesterday in support of the annual March Against Violence campaign.

Organised by the West New Britain chapter of the Women Arise Movement in PNG, the march started outside the town at Gigo to the provincial government offices. Joining the march were men and children, company employees and senior officers,including public servants.

West New Britain Women Arise representative Mamel Taina presented a nine-point petition to the provincial authorities. 

“We, the women of West New Britain, call on the provincial government and delegated authorities in the province, to urgently consider these important issues affecting women’s welfare, our children and our communities here in West New Britain,” Taina said in her address to the crowd.

On hand to receive the petition, signed by more than 20 women, churches and various organisations’ representatives, was provincial administrator Williamson Hosea and his senior managers and officers, LLG presidents and respective ward members.

Among the issues raised in the petition to the provincial government were to:

• Establish a Centre for Hope in Kimbe for victims of violence to seek shelter and legal advice and be checked by a medical expert before providing trauma and counselling services;
• review the policies on women’s empowering programmes in skills training such as sewing, cooking, baking, screen printing, adult literacy, financial literacy and others which can supplement their husbands’ income for their families;
• have a special women’s desk (or counter) located at the Kimbe Police Station, with two women officers specifically to attend to women-only queries without fear or favour.  There was a demand that action be taken against officers forcing victims or relatives to ask for compensation instead of allowing justice to take its course;
• set up a toll-free number or hotline which women or any victim of violence can call and lay  complaints as and when it occurs;
• build a women’s resource centresol women can have access to in managing and developing their affairs, including holding trainings, meetings, workshops and other important activities;
• build permanent toilets, separating the males and females, and that the provincial government contract the cleaning and servicing duties the to the local Women Arise movement to maintain as a form of the group’s income-generation for their programmes;
• engage a legal officer for women’s cases only, where women will free to talk to a female lawyer and seek legal counselling in relation to any court proceedings. Most women do not have enough money to pay legal fees and are often ashamed of expressing themselves in front of male lawyers;
• support and fund new school buses or trucks for students attending secondary schools and colleges in the province. Most students are often left stranded and don’t get to schools on time or arrive late. Girls were often at the risk of getting raped; and
• build proper bus stops for people to shelter from rain or the hot sun during pick-ups and drop-offs. Right now buses and PMVs stop and take off anywhere in town and this had resulted in many accidents.

Yesterday’s petition and march culminated from a two-week long Valentines against Violence event that ended on Wednesday. Agriculture giant in the province New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL) helped the women with a supply of biscuits and water for the walk. 

During a presentation of the items to the women on Wednesday, NBPOL Women Empowering Women representative Dianne Mirio the oil palm developer had recognised the efforts of women in West New Britain and had come good with the assistance.

“The company has recognised your efforts in combating violence against women and children and has come good with this assistance,” Mirio said.