By Staycey Yalo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The National Capital District Commission in Partnership with the UN Women and other stake holders have launched a week long anti-harassment campaign in Port Moresby starting this Sunday.
This Global event will be witnessed in Port Moresby for the first time to make all public places such as bus stops, markets and the shops, safe for all women and girls.
NCDC Deputy City Manager for Community and Social Services, Lulu Ted, who launched the event, said harassment of women and girls in public places is disrespectful and primitive. “Street harassment involved towards girls and women include unwanted comments, whistling, stalking/following, catcalling (e.g. stuck one), unwanted touching (e.g. female buttocks), throwing objects (betel nut husk, stones, etc.) to get attention and sexual gestures,” Ted said.
This will be the first of its kind for Port Moresby City to actively take part in the Anti-Harassment campaign, which is a global event.
Port Moresby itself is a multicultural city and getting people to understand the importance of respect and equality has been a continuous task for the National Capital District Commission. The anti-harassment event is to educate the public on creating a safe environment for women and girls to move around freely and to create awareness that making a women or girl feel uncomfortable to move around freely is not right.
Partnering in this important event is UN Women, through sponsorship from the Australian and New Zeeland Aid. UN Women Country Representative, Susan Ferguson, said women’s safety is a human right and should be respected. The week long program will run in schools through youth organisations within NCDC and others such as the Voice Inc. and Equal Playing Field.
