UNITED NATIONS, Feb 29, 2012 (IPS) – Violence, torture and other forms of cruel treatment are on the rise for women in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.
The highlands women of Papua New Guinea (PNG) experience the most frequent and severe forms of violence, according to two studies. The violence is linked to extreme cultural traditions that discriminate against women and girls, such as polygamy, forced marriages, sorcery, witch-hunting and extra-judicial killings. But at least one woman is fighting back in Papua New Guinea. Lilly Be’Soer, who was once a victim of tribal conflict and has been in a polygamous marriage, founded Voice for Change, a women’s rights non-governmental organisation (NGO).
In 2010, Be’Soer was awarded a Pacific Human Rights Defenders Award. Most recently, she has helped negotiate a peace agreement to resettle 500 internally displaced families.
via Q&A: Where Abusing Women Is “An Accepted Norm” – IPS ipsnews.net.
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