The Lihir Meri Development Senta hosted a peaceful protest march to commemorate National Haus Krai day today.
The inaugural event was held last year as a protest against the epidemic of gender-based violence throughout the country. This symbolic act of national solidarity prompted the government to pass the Family Protection Act in September last year.
Last year, the national government voted 65 to nil in favor of the Family Protection Act. The act criminalizes domestic violence and offers protection to the victims. The National Haus Krai Day was the defining moment that got the government’s attention to act to stop this epidemic.
Today on the island of Lihir, 600 strong men, women and children came out to commemorate this day. The primary objective of the Lihir Ailan Haus Krai was to break the silence, and stop gender-based violence.
A petition will be presented to the provincial government and the local level government, to established three integrated organisations to help victims of gender-based violence. The organisations are the Family Sexual Violence Unit, Family Support Center at the Lihir Medical Center, and a Meri Safe Haus.
Communities are noticing that even with the 2013 Family Protection Act, victims and families are still frightened to speak out, due to cultural reasons.But it is hoped, that continuous awareness campaigns will give voice and freedom to the victims.
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