By Theckla Gunga – EM TV, Port Moresby
In a day, fifteen to twenty cases of violence, against women are recorded at the Gerehu police station in Port Moresby.
With statistics as such, the UN Women’s Safe Cities Project and the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) have joined forces to address violence, in all its forms, against women and girls.
In observation of the 2014 International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women, the United Nations women’s safe cities project and partners successfully hosted a small, yet significant gathering of men, women and children, as a show of support towards the global cause to end violence against women.
Themed “the rate of violence against women in PNG can be reduced, and it stands with you” the event provided an avenue for women to speak out about their personal ordeals as victims of violence and have their stories told.
Some of whom had suffered at the hands of their own husbands, fathers, brothers and other male relatives from all forms of violence through sexual, physical or verbal abuse.
Dressed in orange coloured wear, attendees and organisers of the event were vocal of their united stand to put an end to violence, for a safer, happier and healthy Papua New Guinea.
Men, clad in orange-coloured meri blouses, which included members of the Australian Federal Police, walked in solidarity from one end of the Gerehu market to the other; while children depicted their support in saying ‘no to violence’ by drawing with chalk on the pavements.
Victims of violence, of which are many, who suffer in silence at the hands of perpetrators are encouraged to seek help through various means available to them, not only in Port Moresby but throughout PNG.
One such being the Meri Safe centres provided by the CPL Group of Companies and the NGO or church-run centres, among others, that deal with violence against women and girls, family violence and provide counselling for victims and perpetrators too, among other services.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=g0nKeTZHXMc%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
