10 Oct 2007

PNG minister optimistic over petition on domestic violence

8:28 pm on 10 October 2007

Papua New Guinea's Community Development Minister is optimistic

the delivery of a petition with four thousand signatures to Parliament will promote change to reduce domestic violence.

Dame Carol Kidu presented the petition together with one hundred protesters who, like thousands nation-wide, wore black as a sign of their support to end the increasing abuse.

Dame Carol says the justice system is still struggling to cope with domestic violence, and has a tendency to leave it to more traditional ways of dealing with problems.

She says that the biggest issue will be trying to change cultural and social attitudes.

Despite Parliament now going into recess, Dame Carol says she is optimistic about the petition.

"I hope it will be a bit of a break through in mobilising this whole issue forward of dealing with the violence in society particularly violence against women and children. People have been kind of silent and shameful for a long time."

Dame Carol Kidu.