The assistant commissioner of police for Papua New Guinea's Highlands region says socio-economic development is driving up the rate of domestic violence.
The comment follows a suggestion from another member of the Highlands police force that the bride price system is one of the major contributing factors to the high rate of violence against women.
But Simon Kauba says even if the dowry system were able to be removed, other more significant factors such as alcohol abuse and economic pressures would remain.
"Going back to about 30 or 40 years ago, it's been unheard of. Maybe you might have a situation in a very remote part of the country, it may never be exposed, you've never heard of it, there may be some incidences where it has never been very serious like it is nowadays."
Simon Kauba says school children should be educated on domestic violence as part of the school curriculum.
