Black Thursday

Roselyn, my closest PNG friend, wore a beautiful black dress today. When I complemented her she told me some women wear black on Thursdays as a silent stand against violence against women. Violence against women and children is highly prevalent here in PNG.

I had an enlightening conversation with a young woman I met at the Country Women’s Association (CWA). She works for her father, a high profile lawyer in Madang town. She shared that she and her family were and continue to be targets for attacks due to the nature of her father’s job. She remembers practicing drills and following family routines for safety measures. She has been held at gunpoint and physically attacked on many occasions. She feels that women should always be on guard. She carries a knife in her bag and a screwdriver in her pocket. Recently, along the road to her village, she was approached by a drunken man. When he attempted to attack her, she was prepared and turned on him. The next day she returned to that village along the road and called a meeting. She stood confidently among the people of her attacker and gave a convincing warning. Not long ago, she heard cries of mercy from her neighbor who was being beaten by her husband. She helped the woman escape by stifling gas out of a nearby drilling rig to fill the vehicle at the community health post. She took the severely beaten woman to the hospital and police post to file a report. These unfortunate events have helped shape the incredible person she is today. She is confident, educated, liberal, aware, strong, and holds the potential to be a leader for women’s rights. She is a symbol of strength to the battered women in her village. She is a constant reminder to the youth of her community of the importance of education and self respect.

All it takes is one woman, or one black dress. We can make a difference in the fight against violence against women.