That changed recently after the shocking case of a woman who was repeatedly abused by her policeman husband sparked uproar.
The case of Joy Wartovo prompted Papua New Guineans to turn to social media, a recent phenomenon in PNG, to express their outrage and demand police action.
The mother of two went public late last year with a harrowing tale of years of abuse at the hands of her policeman husband Simon Bernard.
The story faded until recently, when Wartovo was hospitalized with multiple stab wounds inflicted by her husband.
It turned out that Bernard had not been prosecuted for the earlier assault and was protected by former colleagues in the police.
Effrey Dademo from the advocacy group Act Now! says the case has prompted women to turn to social media to speak out.
