Papua New Guinea women are outraged at last week's reports involving policemen from Boroko police station who forced a woman to swallow condoms or face being arrested and locked up.
The video which made the local and international news is being condemned in the strongest terms by women from all walks of life around the country.
Well known business woman Sarah Todd on behalf of founders and members of the Women Arise Group said police brutality had worsened and the country was losing its grip on how to deal quickly and transparently with such police brutality.
"We will no longer tolerate such abuse and the government and police commissioner must be held accountable for the actions of these state officers.
“Women make up 50% of the country’s population and we equally contribute to nation building and development of this country, give us the respect, recognition and protection we deserve,’’ she said.
Diane Mirio from Kimbe Women Arise said, “attacks and abuse by police on citizens, especially women, must be dealt with immediately by police. No one should be above the law, whether it is a law enforcer or a leader or an ordinary citizen of this nation, the law must reach everyone who breaks it," she said.
"We do not and will not tolerate this anymore. We want all officers dealt with accordingly under the law. We want action," said Mirio.
The Women Arise group and other women and girls in the country have called on the Government and responsible organisations to come out clearly on the actions and strategies they have established to address the police brutality and violence against women, girls and children since receiving the National Haus Krai petition in 2013.
They said that the behaviour and mindset of a few male police officers must change towards women as sexual objects.
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible, the actions of these rogue policemen who are getting away with their disgusting, scandalous behaviours.’’
Condemning the recent shocking video of a young girl forced by policemen to swallow condoms during an interrogation, co-founder Esmie Sinapa said: “Women Arise have boldly refused to accept a mere apology from the Police Commissioner Baki, demanding that the police hierarchy should outline to the women of this country what actions or strategies they have put in place to deal with this disgraceful act and policemen concerned.
“There are countless numbers of cases of police brutality, abuses and violence towards women of this country, who deserve to be protected and respected at all levels by their menfolk. To consent to the norm of accepting apologies without taking concrete actions to apprehend suspects especially in the police force is not in the best interest of many women who have suffered violence in one way or another,’’ Sinapa said.
These women leaders have called on the Police Commissioner to “do less talking’’ and take drastic actions to apprehend the suspects involved in “this shameful and degrading act’’.
The Women ARISE chapters across the nation have also expressed their dissatisfaction on the poor outcome of the National Haus Krai petition handed to the O’Neil-Dion Government in May 2013.
“We ask the government of the day to outline to the women of Papua New Guinea, what it has done so far since receiving this petition,’’ a Women Arise statement said.
They also highlighted the need for Minister Delilah Gore and Secretary of the Department of Community Development, Ms Anna Solomon, to enlighten the women on the development and implementation of the National Strategy to End Violence.
“The recent countless acts of violence against women have prompted women leaders nationwide through the Women Arise group to plan a possible protest in the coming weeks,’’ the statement said.
“Behind the scenes, a plan of action is being pieced together by more than 30 women for a nationwide protest including media interviews locally and internationally.
“Women groups are meeting separately in Port Moresby, Lae and Kimbe to finalize plans for a nationwide protest against police brutality and all forms of violence against women, girls and children of this country.
“They call upon their brothers and sisters across the nation to rise up once more and say ENOUGH is ENOUGH.’’