On the occasion, a delegation of women from PNG also will make their first-ever visit to the United States, to speak before the U.N. on behalf of their countrywomen and demand an end to violence.
Amnesty International Australia supporters raised the funds to send two of the women, Tapora Isorua and Sarah Garap, local experts in the field of gender-based violence in PNG, to speak before the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in New York on Monday, July 19.
The two women will describe the extent of the violence and discrimination against women in their country, and call on the committee to urge the PNG government to protect women’s rights.
Sarah Garap said before her departure: “Women and girls are frequently subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse. Women are being killed for alleged sorcery. The violence is much worse than in my mother’s day. We will be taking the voices of many in PNG with us to New York. I hope to come back knowing that we have raised awareness at the international level.”
Tapora Isorua said: “The U.N. must tell the PNG Government to make gender-equal laws and policies. This will be a real stock-take of our status at the international level and we hope, after the CEDAW hearing, to see meaningful change.”
Hannah Harborow, campaign coordinator at Amnesty International Australia, who has travelled with the delegation to New York, said: “Physical and sexual violence against women and girls in PNG is rife. The government needs to pass a law that explicitly makes domestic violence a crime. There are almost no government services providing emergency medical care or accommodation for women fleeing violence and the police themselves have committed sexual violence against women.”
Following Tapora and Sarah’s presentation, the CEDAW committee on Thursday, July 22, will give its first formal review of what PNG has done to end discrimination and violence against women in the country.
Amnesty International has collected over 37,000 signatures on a petition calling for an end to violence against women in PNG.