Stand up with women in Papua New Guinea

24 November 2009, 05:30PM

Across Papua New Guinea (PNG), two thirds of women experience physical violence at the hands of their husbands. In at least one region, it is close to 100 per cent. And 60 per cent of men have admitted to being involved in at least one gang rape.

PNG's Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, has publicly called on husbands to stop the violence, saying he is ashamed of the high levels in his country.

This July, the Government of PNG is due to report to the United Nations about the steps it is taking to protect women. We plan to present Prime Minister Somare with this petition, to let him know the eyes of the world are watching and that we expect real action for women in PNG.

Stand in solidarity with women in PNG, sign the petition now

In August last year, at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting, the Government committed to eradicating all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. Yet so far there has been no adequate action, legislation or increase in services for women fleeing violence.

Sign our petition and call on the Government of Papua New Guinea to:

• Commit financial and other support to organisations currently providing emergency accommodation to women and children fleeing family violence.
• Announce publically the amount of funding committed towards safe houses and to establish a transparent process for accessing these funds.
• Introduce and enforce specific domestic violence legislation.
• Formally commit to the above three points when reporting on steps taken by the Government to end discrimination and violence against women at the 46th Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in July 2010.

No protection, nowhere to go

"My husband broke my nose and hit me with timber over the back of my head. I went to the police to tell them to arrest him – they said they would do it but they didn’t."

Margaret, East Sepik.

The stories of violence we hear from women in PNG are horrifying, yet bravely more and more are taking matters into their own hands. At great risk to themselves, they are joining forces in an attempt to protect one another and make sure their voices are heard.

Grace and Josephine are two of many women in PNG who have told Amnesty International their stories of domestic and sexual violence. They have endured horrific ordeals - being forced to have sex and contracting HIV, beaten by iron rods, wire and pieces of timber, fleeing violent husbands to then be subjected to violence
by other family members. Read their stories.

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