25 November – Stop Violence Against Women in PNG

Today, 25 November of 2014, is the International Day to End Violence Against Women. As every year, it is the starting point of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence all around the world.

From this blog, we also want to raise awareness about the huge problem of Violence Against Women and it is for this reason that we are sharing some strong data about Gender Based Violence in Papua New Guinea. The pervasive presence of Violence Against Women in the country is scary, and it is destroying one of our most precious treasures: our women. This unnecessary and cruel and omnipresent violence hinders development and prevents the wellbeing of the many communities that conform the country. For this reason, everybody in PNG needs to act to Stop Violence Against Women. You need to act. Now. Everybody can do something.

We encourage you to watch this video filled with images of women in Papua New Guinea. Watch it, share it and stand up for justice, respect and peace.

To all the girls and women in Papua New Guinea: strong, brave and resilient women who deserve a life free of violence.

Every year, many women accused of witchcraft or sorcery are murdered, tortured or forced to exile. Women are more likely to be accused of witchcraft because of their weaker social and political status. Police reports present cases of victims that have been badly tortured, burnt with hot iron, chopped, buried alive, beheaded, pushed from high cliffs, electrocuted, forced to drink petroleum, stoned to death and shot.

It could have been your sister. It could have been your mother. It could have been you.

Do something to stop this.  Stand up for the Human Rights of all beings.