10/10/07
http://www.thenational.com.pg/101007/nation4.htm

By HARLYNE JOKU
WOMEN expressed disappointment yesterday when Parliament postponed the debate on the petition presented by Community Development Minister Dame Carol Kidu on violence against women.
Instead, parliament went ahead to present its K1.6 billion supplementary budget, which was passed overwhelmingly by both the Government and Opposition.
More than a hundred women dressed in black and wearing white ribbons symbolising silent protest against violence rose and left parliament grounds disappointed.
They said there was no clear indication of support to their petition from their MPs.
Outside Parliament, several women interviewed said they wished the MPs had expressed themselves in debate over the issue so they could be aware of what the leaders think about the issue.
Dame Carol recommended in the petition that leaders act to stop violence against women.
She referred to recent reports in the media that a man had beaten up his wife accusing her of an affair and clawed the baby out of her womb.
Then, the man allegedly poured boiling water over the woman to put her to sleep.
Dame Carol had also referred to men’s other atrocities to women.
Over 4,000 women signed the petition and more were expected to follow suit.
Women representing various organisations sent their representatives to parliament including the president of the National Women’s Council scholar Kakas and Tiffany Nonggorr, the president of Susu Mamas.
Ms Kakas said the silent protest was for a good cause and that women throughout the country were fed up of the violence against them.
She said it was a pity that the MPs could not entertain the petition because the timing may not right, but she added that 30,000 to 40,000 signatures were expected.
Mrs Nonggorr said the silent protest action was about women bondage which was a “beginning of a greater task and challenge”.
She said for many years, successive governments had not done anything to pass appropriate legislation stopping the crime against women.
Two men spoke in support of the women outside Parliament.
One was Reverend Joshua Daimoi, the head of the Christian Leaders Training College, and the other was from the Salvation Army Captain John Kerari.
Rev Daimoi said people should not take life easily but seriously, and should have a lot more human dignity.
Capt Kerari appealed to good men to stand up and join their women in the fight against violence.

This is just horrific...what are the educated doing about it??? turning a blind eye again I hope not!

well apparently, even the educated make up some percentage of the ones who are abusing their women

Hey ladies,

What you think about the headlines promoting awerness on good family living and bringing attention to domestic violence.

What else can be done?

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Petition
Notes to the Petition:The Petition in relation to Violence against Women & children to be presented in Parliament on Tuesday in Parliament. It will be published on Monday’s Post Courier.

That there is a general, pervasive feeling of dismay and helplessness about the increasing levels of violence in all sectors of society, particularly violence within the family which should be a safe haven for all people - women, children and men.We remind honourable Members of some recent horrific crimes : last week a young pregnant woman was repeatedly beaten by her husband who then forced his hand into her vagina and ripped the unborn child from her womb – she may survive but psychologically and emotionally she is scarred forever; three weeks ago a woman was chopped to death by her husband in Gordons market watched by Security Guards – nobody helped and now she is dead ; a few months ago a young girl was reportedly raped by 30 men; in November last year Josephine was tortured for days - burnt with hot stones etc etc by her husband and died after this horrific ordeal; recently an innocent woman was attacked by her drunk husband who chopped her left wrist causing it to hang off. As she reached out to hold the chopped wrist the husband then slashed her right elbow cutting off the main tendon and nerve system then slashed her across the right shoulder blade also cutting off the main tendon. She is now unable to go to work and is unable to feed herself nor do anything as the injuries sustained have disabled her for life.Sadly, these horrific crimes are occurring on a daily basis somewhere in PNG – many of them are never recorded and never reported but we all know they are happening.
We, as concerned citizens, acknowledge that governments over the last ten years have made significant progress with legislative and policy reforms in the social sector but we are concerned that the implementation of these reforms needs far greater commitment from both government and civil society.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that:

1. The problem of violence in families and society at large be treated as a matter of national importance by this, the eight National Parliament, and we call on each Member of Parliament to make a personal commitment to advocate against and take action against violence in their electorates, particularly violence against women and children.
2. The government provides the necessary financial and technical support to complete the work presently in progress with the drafting of the Family Protection Bill and for each member of this Parliament to provide leadership to ensure that the citizens of this country have their rights protected as stated in our Constitution, laws and international agreements.
3. The government forms partnership with key stakeholders including ngos, faith based organizations, business community, educational entities, relevant statutory government authorities and donor partners to ensure affirmative action against violence.
4. The government provides resources to enhance the capacity of responsible government agencies to implement existing laws to protect women and children.
5. The government establishes additional facilities and improve existing Family Support Centres to provide care and support to women and children who experience violence, abuse and exploitation.
6. The government institutes a register to record all instances of family and gender-based violence at hospitals, clinics and care centres run by non-government organizations and churches to be used as a basis of planning preventative and support measures.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound will ever pray.

read with emotions all the posts related to the above and though to drop my 2cent. It is REALLY SAD to hear about how the women are treated by the opposite sex, It is kinda weird just reading through it with imagination. I just feel sorry for the women and the kids. they are treated like animals.. man.. it is not on.. and the last thing we all would want to hear is that Parliament has no time for such and such.. Hey! big buddies and wanna be big buddies, these are the first issues that you need to concentrate on, If you start from the individuals and families, no doubt your relationship to the big picture will forever be blessed.. SO! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE STOP THE ABUSE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN and Please Governement the voices of women are meant to be heard as well! Try it.
God bless