Protest against gender-based Violence in Port Moresby

The National Capital District Governor has called on the government to urgently address violence against women and children in the country.

Powes Parkop issued the call in Port Moresby, when announcing a peaceful protest march for this Friday.

The protest is to petition the government to endorse a new National Gender-Based Violence Strategy, which would cover 2016 to 2025.

Governor Parkop said the protest, by women and youth leaders, will petition the government to urgently address gender-based violence because it’s not only a girls and women's issue, it is now the country’s issue.

“It needs national attention, national resources to be allocated and a national program to be coordinated so that we can start to put this behaviour, this bad habit behind us,” Mr Parkop said.

“And so on Friday it will be an occupation of the street to demand action and to call attention.”

He added that if PNG is not serious and responsive, the impacts will stall the development process of the country.

Governor Parkop said gender-based violence has reached an epidemic level and requires the government to take full ownership and make a commitment to bring the epidemic to a manageable level. NBC News/Photo credit - PSI - Papua New Guinea