Culture and Violence: The Melanesian Philosophy of Human Dignity

As I volunteer who has been in PNG for 15 months, I was not surprised by the hard facts and shocking truths revealed at the symposium hosted by Divine Word University.

Hard Facts and Statistics
• Gender based violence is now one of the leading factors of HIV infection in PNG.
• In the Highlands, 100% of wives reported being beaten by their husbands.
• In hospitals throughout PNG, trauma patients constitute 70% of all surgical presentations, 65% of all surgical admissions, and 20% of the overall hospital admission rates.
• 75% of all trauma cases are non-accidental.
• Domestic violence constitutes 21% of all trauma cases.
• In Madang alone, between January and July 2009 1,336 cases of assault were reported to the police.
• PNG has the highest maternal mortality rate in the Pacific (730/100,000) PNG is 2nd in the World behind Sub-Saharan Africa
• In one study, 60% of PNG men reported to have participated at least once in gang rapes.
• In incidents of sexual abuse reported in Alotau hospital, 52% of cases were of children under the age of 16.
• 110-150 men and women are accused of sorcery and killed every year in PNG with a higher percentage of these being women.

I felt as if the symposium began to address the real key issues mid-day on the second day. PNG men and women spoke with passion, a real desire to address the issues of culture and violence. They were able to bring together all the issues of traditional cultures, the realities of violence, limitations of governmental sectors, isolation, the effects of the mining industry, pornography, and evolving cultures and limitations networking with other sectors.

Many women and counselors shared their stories of how survivors were first raped by their perpetrator, then by the police, then by the doctors, then by the courts, then by their community.

The Governor of the National Capital District (NCD), a doctor from Modilon Hospital in Madang, and a woman officer working for Boroko Police force in Port Moresby spoke of the truths within the layers of challenges within their sectors.

Governmental: The issue of Government spending in response to trauma was addressed. Trauma is a high cost for governmental sectors such as health and justice. The Governor of NCD spoke openly of the costs of violence and culture in his province. He addressed key issues such as the influx of settlements, transient workers, lack of job placements, homosexuality and PNG’s changing culture. In his response to violence, a hotline has been established that will link callers to a security company within all provinces across PNG.

Health: “Trauma in PNG is an epidemic out of control.” Dr. Vincent Atua, Emergency Dept. Modilon Hosp. Doctors and nurses barely have the time to make rounds and see to their patients. The reality is that the level of engagement at hospitals is on a clinical level. There is no time for social supports such as counseling and rehabilitation. The reality is patients are being sutured with unsterile instruments. Emergency vehicles are bashed and staffs are not trained to make repairs to donor equipment. Identified needs include: trainings in trauma mgt, increased communication with networks, hospital social worker.

Law & Order: In NCD, a pilot project is in its first year establishing the only Family and Sexual Violence (FSV) Unit. The FSV Unit has 10 trained staff working in 3 areas (Wagani, Boroko and Moresby South). The Unit conducts trainings in communities and with ngos, helps to make protection orders accessible, and is working to make amendments to sexual offenses in family court. The officer strongly encourages witnesses to step up and help justice prevail. The realities are there is no fuel in the vehicles to respond or follow up on cases, there is corruption and bribery within the police force itself and police turn women away stating, “This is a family matter. Control it elsewhere.” “Police are forced to resort to illegal methods because the people do not respond.” The police force is looking for more to be done with prevention and networking.

There are governmental sectors, organizations, and individuals who are working to address the culture of violence in PNG; however, more must be done. As stated by the Governor of NCD, “The law and policy is there; what is lacking is the implementation.”