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PAPUA NEW GUINEA - SPECIAL
RAPPORTEUR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY VS. IMPUNITY FOR
GENDER VIOLENCE
PORT MORESBY (26 March
2012) – United Nations Special Rapporteur Rashida Manjoo called* on the
Government of Papua New Guinea to reinforce legal and support mechanisms in its
fight to eradicate violence against women. At the end of her first fact-finding
mission to the country, Ms. Manjoo also urged the authorities to address some
of the traditional practices that are harmful to women.
“Accountability,
rather than impunity, should become the norm for all acts of violence against
women,” said the independent expert charged by the UN Human Rights Council to
investigate violence against women, its causes and consequences. “The
responsibility to prevent violence, protect against violence, provide remedies
for victims, and to punish perpetrators for all acts of violence against women,
is primarily an obligation of the State.”
Ms. Manjoo
noted that Papua New Guinea is a culturally rich and diverse country, in which
the respect for tradition plays an important role in the daily lives of its
population. However, she stressed, “violence against women is a pervasive
phenomenon in Papua New Guinea, with a wide range of manifestations occurring
in the home, the community and institutional settings.”
In her
preliminary observations, the Special Rapporteur noted that violence against
women in the country begins at home, with women and girl children being
subjected to physical and sexual violence, mostly by male family members.
“Domestic violence is socially perceived as a normal aspect of a woman’s life
and a family matter that should not be discussed publicly,” she said.
Polygamy was
also identified as a common cause of violence in the family by the UN
independent expert: “The abuse usually starts with neglect and lack of resource
provision for the first wife and her children, but can escalate to physical and
sexual violence, and in some cases murder.”
“Complaints
of violence and sexual abuse of women by the police while in detention and
outside was a systemic issue, including against sex workers,” Ms. Manjoo said.
“Regardless of the specific manifestations of violence suffered, most
interviewed victims felt that the policing sector had not provided them with an
adequate response to their cases.”
The expert
welcomed a number of positive measures adopted by the Government, like the
Family and Sexual Violence Units set up by the police; the Women and Children’s
desks set up through the Community Policing; and the Family and Sexual Offence
Unit of the Office of the Public Prosecutor, together with the appointment of a
Victim Liaison Officer responsible for assisting women victims of violence who
use the criminal justice system.
“Currently
these units have very little resources and, as awareness and usage of these
specialized units’ increases, there is a growing need for additional staff and
resources to be allocated to them,” she warned highlighting the lack of
adequate human and financial resources for such initiatives.
“It is my
hope that relevant and much needed laws are passed soon, existing laws are
adequately enforced; that existing specialized units are strengthened and
replicated at the provincial and district levels; that women are encouraged and
supported by the state sector in bringing their cases to the District and
National Courts,” the rights expert said.
“The
empowerment of women must be coupled with social transformation, to fully
address the systemic and structural causes of inequality and discrimination,
which most often lead to violence against women,” she stressed.
During her
fact-finding mission from 18 to 26 March, Ms. Manjoo met with Government
officials, National and Provincial authorities, and members of the Autonomous
Bougainville Government. She also held meetings with representatives of civil
society organisations, UN agencies and the donor community.
“Most
importantly,” the UN Special Rapporteur added, “I want to thank the individual
women who courageously shared their personal experiences of violence and
survival with me.”
Ms. Rashida
Manjoo (South Africa) was appointed Special Rapporteur on Violence against
women, its causes and consequences in June 2009 by the UN Human Rights Council,
for an initial period of three year. As Special Rapporteur, she is independent
from any government or organization and serves in her individual capacity. Ms.
Manjoo is also a Professor at the Department of Public Law at the University of
Cape Town. Learn more, log on to: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/women/rapporteur/index.htm
(*) Check
the full end-of-mission statement: http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=12013&LangID=E