by Kiwiana Ngabung – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
Now in its eighth year, the PNG Human Rights Film Festival has seen many films depicting human rights issues affecting Papua New Guineans.
The film festival creates an avenue for individuals and groups to learn what their human rights are, its importance, and what can be done to further improve human rights issues in the country. This is done through screening films and panel discussions.
The theme this year i, ‘Look, Know, Act or Luksave na kirapim wok’ ; bringing to light the aim of the festival – to encourage positive change.
The 8th PNG Human Rights Film Festival will run from Friday, October 13 to 15 at the Moresby Arts Theatre in Port Moresby. It will also be held from October 9 – 11 at the Mark Solon Auditorium (MSA) at the University of Goroka, Eastern Highlands.
The annual event features local and international films unfolding certain human rights themes that Papua New Guineans can relate to. This year, one of the films that will be showing is “Betelnut Bisnis”, highlighting the betel nut trade in the country and citizens’ reliance on the green gold.
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), prominent human rights NGO, places where human rights are undervalued and there are not human rights norms, poverty is pervasive.
For PNG, HRW World Report 2017 emphasized on areas that Papua New Guineans are all too familiar with, and sadly has generally become common practice. These include: women’s and girls’ rights; government corruption, police abuse, asylum seekers and refugees, children’s rights, disability rights and sexual orientation and gender identity.
Topics that will be covered in the film festival are 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Environment & Climate Change, Corruption and Access to Justice, Elections, and Health & Education, among others.
Other places that the PNG Human Rights Film Festival will visit, apart from Port Moresby and Goroka, are Madang and Buka. Entry is free so everyone is encouraged to attend and learn something new.
