Page 5 - IB July 2020

We Say

‘CULTURE’ CANNOT EXCUSE VIOLENCE

When news emerged of 20-year-old Jenelyn Kennedy’s PNG already is already implementing its 2016-2025 strategy,
death in Port Moresby in late June, Papua New Guineans although given recent events, there are questions about how
were horrified. Jenelyn’s youth, the horrific circumstances in effective it has been to date.
which she died—and the fact it came just weeks after another Efforts have been undermined by a decision to allow former
high-profile domestic assault of a PNG sports star, all fuelled 7s player Amenoni Nasilasila—who was convicted for rape last
extraordinary coverage of her death. The National newspaper year—to train with the Namosi rugby union squad, angering
published a harrowing image of Jenelyn’s body, with reporter Fijians who said sports stars shouldn’t be given special treat-
Rebecca Kuku explaining that it was important to show read- ment. In another example of victim blaming, citizens who
ers what she (Jenelyn) had been through. “Her story needed highlighted the issue were subjected to hateful and racist at-
to be told, as a reporter, a woman, a mother, a sister, I failed tacks themselves on social media. The Fiji Corrections Service
to be her voice when she was alive and I’d be damned if I later said Nasilasila had completed his rehabilitation program,
would fail her now in her death,” Kuku wrote. and he was entitled to play. However the links between
Sadly her story is all too common. Namosi Rugby and the Prisons Commissioner, and the fact that
Last month a PNG research project into the reporting, last October—just five days after being sentenced—Nasilasila
investigation and prosecution of family and sexual violence was photographed taking part in a training game against a
(FSV) offences noted an increase in reporting to police of such Tuvaluan team, challenge the credibility of this argument.
cases, with almost three-quarters of the victims aged under In PNG, the campaign against gender-based violence has
18, with more serious crimes most often being committed by garnered the support of PNG corporates, with Kumul Pe-
“blood relatives” and 90% involving alcohol. troleum, Fincorp Tech and others joining the PNG Man Up
Prime Minister James Marape recently said: “I call for all campaign, which encourages Papua New Guineans to take a
witnesses of crime, including domestic violence, don’t hide pledge against violence, and ‘say no to compensation and yes
behind culture, compensation and tribal embrace, let us all to conviction’.
assist prosecuting lawlessness and violence.” From a purely business perspective there are clear econom-
Papua New Guineans have pointed to the persistence of ic benefits in taking this position as a number of World Bank
beliefs that for many people, a woman’s main purpose is studies have demonstrated. A survey by the Business Coalition
to bear children, and to the continued practice of paying for Women and the World Bank found that 94% of PNG busi-
“bride-price” turning women and girls into commodities with ness leaders believe their staff had experienced family and
no agency. They refer to the role of compensation payments, sexual violence, at a cost of 10% of a company’s payroll.
“honour killings” (a terrible misnomer), and a system that In an open letter to The National, Pacific Islands Forum
allows underage marriages, as other impediments to true Secretary General and prominent Papua New Guinean, Dame
justice and safety for women and children. Meg Taylor, said while she “understands the strengths and
The UN says there has been a global upsurge in violence limitations of our cultures and customs… I cannot help but
against women since the outbreak of coronavirus. This has ask: what kind of country are we building for the future
seen Australia commit an additional A$230K to address gender generation when women and girls are tortured, abused and
based violence arising from COVID-19 in Tonga. The Samoa killed and where families know about abuse and torture and
Victim Support Group says it’s noticed a marked increase in say nothing….
family violence since the country went into lockdown. Yet “We make excuses and we go the extra mile for our sons
just this month a Samoan Catholic priest, Father Muliau whilst our daughters, from a very young age, carry burdens
Stowers suggested women face assault if they wear so-called of responsibility. When there is violence against women, we
provocative clothing or are caught in the wrong place at settle the situation with compensation payments, but we do
the wrong time. He later apologised, but his attitude is not little or nothing at all to help young families seek help and
unique. heal.”
Fiji’s government says the country is facing an epidemic of Her questions are ones for us all. For all the donor funds in
violence, with one of the highest recorded rates of violence the world allocated to anti violence programs, all the good
against women and girls globally with almost two out of three intentions and good policy and law made in national capitals
(64%) women experiencing some form of physical or sexual or courthouses will come to nought if we don’t tackle the
violence in their lifetime. Analysis of rape cases in 2019 fundamental issue in our houses, in our communities, in our
conducted by the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement found the churches and in our extended families. As long as we turn a
youngest accused person was 12 years of age, the average age blind eye to violence against women, we are accomplices to
of the victim or survivor was 16, the youngest was 2 years 11 it. Girls and women have the same intrinsic value as men, and
months old, and that in 53% of cases the victim/survivor was they deserve the same respect, protections and privileges.
17 years or younger. Last year alone, ten women in Fiji were
killed by their intimate partners. This year Fiji announced We Say is compiled under the supervision of the editors
it was rolling out a national strategy to address the issue. editor@islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business, July 2020 5