By Tapo Tovilu
The fight against domestic violence has taken a new
direction with the training of youths and husbands on the importance of
respecting women and treating women equally.
Training officer attached with the Leitana Nehan Women’s
Development Agency, Francis Semoso, is leading the first awareness workshop on
domestic violence for youths and husbands.
“Domestic violence in our country is a very serious issue
and each year about 75% of cases are related to domestic violence,” Mr Semoso
said.
The awareness training began in March and has successfully
been carried out in Bana, Ieta, Wakunai and Solos.
Mr Semoso explained that the male ego, power and authority
instil in him that he can do whatever he wants to with women. The training tries
to change that mentality by making men aware that both men and women are equal.
“Since we started going out into the communities there has
been success with men realising that women are to be treated equally,” Mr
Semoso said.
He said it was the first program of its kind in
Bougainville and he looks forward to increasing the team next year and
involving more areas.
Tapo Tovilu is a journalism
student at the Divine Word University
Comments