gender-based violence

This week saw a significant milestone with the official opening of two new office units for the Family Sexual Violence Unit at the Gordons and Badili Police Stations respectively. 

UNDP provided the infrastructure to allow highly trained and specialized police personnel to provide protection services and access to justice for survivors experiencing violence, especially for women and children. 

“No one talks about our Parliamentarian champions.”

“No one talks about our artists who are putting this in the spotlight. No one talks about our musicians who are inspiring communities. No one talks about our journalists, who are writing these stories and bringing these issues to the fore,” said Caroline Nyamayemombe, UN Women’s Deputy Country Representative, at the launch of the global Generation Equality Forum.

The forum will take place in Paris from 30 June to 2 July 2021.

Four years later, the late Jenelyn Kennedy’s family members come out to tell a story of abuse and torture following her passing this week.

Elder brother Kiloh Maule Kennedy told this newsroom that prior to her death, she was reportedly tied and locked up in her room by her partner, Bosip Kaiwi.

“It was last week Thursday when she was locked up in her room at Korobosea. They were renting a place over there. She was locked up in the room with the babysitter,” Kennedy stated.

The story was widely spread on social media yesterday (June 24^th) after the Port Moresby General Hospital head of emergency, Dr Sam Yockopua, highlighted the bruises and fractures she suffered before her death on the night of June 23^rd.

Dr Yockopua said: “It was obvious that she had been tied forcefully, her hands and feet showed all features suggesting how strongly the ropes were tied to the back.

Although the Pacific has largely been spared by the spread of the disease relative to other regions around the world – with Fiji hardest hit of the six countries the UN Women’s Ending Violence Against Women and Girls programme works in, at 18 confirmed cases – all of which have since been cleared, and several countries without a recorded a case so far – the economic and social consequences have been deep.

The march was organised to show support for Papua New Guinea’s 20 Days of Human Rights Activism campaign.

Men, women and youth carried placards, posters and banners as they weaved their way from Goroka’s Mambu market to the town square, before assembling at the Young Christian Centre Hall.

Speakers highlighted the importance of a collaborative approach among like-minded organisations to end gender-based violence.

Among them were four female journalists who were awarded for their coverage of the sensitive issues.

Every year, UN Women and UNAIDS organise the Media Awards for Excellence in Reporting on HIV and Gender-Based Violence.

This is to recognise the high standard of balanced sensitive reporting by local media personnel on GBV and HIV issues in Papua New Guinea.

Under this year’s theme of ‘Hear My Voice! My Story!’, four female journalists and a Yumi Sanap Strong representative were awarded on November 5^th.

This would be a more simplified definition of the term ‘violence’.

A human rights workshop held this morning at the American Corner in the National Library called the #Men&BoysToo highlights men also being victims and subjected to gender-based violence in the country.

The workshop coincides with the World Human Rights day activities observed worldwide and is for interested individuals, human rights activists and advocates as well as men and boys who have experienced domestic and sexual violence and abuse.

This is activism against violence and to promote gender equality and human rights in the nation’s capital.

This is not new, he said.

The initiative is that of the United Nation, which sees non-government organisations (NGO) working together to choose a time in the year to push that idea.

For this year, Governor Parkop says it will coincide with the children’s day and human rights day. But he hopes this year’s program will be elevated to another level.

According to statistics, two thirds of Papua New Guinea’s female population have experienced some kind of gender-based violence in their lifetime.

Stakeholders partnering with the government have come up with a strategic framework which can identify platforms and avenues to minimise, if not eradicate, gender-based violence in the country.

United Nations Population Fund representative Koffi Koume, during a recent gathering, highlighted the need for a framework strategic approach that can ensure that this dire issue is addressed.