Study finds 'severe' brutality against women in Papua New Guinea

[Violet_Crumble]

11. I think the status of women in PNG has always been low...

PNG gained independence from Australia in 1975 and since then law and order's taken a massive nose-dive, and that's just made the situation for women even worse. Because most of PNG is so remote and aren't connected to each other by road (when I was there back in the 80's, the road ended outside of Port Moresby and the only way to get around was to fly), there's not really one culture, but a large number of different cultures depending on what town or village people are in. It's kinda like Australia's indigenous population with many cultures and languages. Poverty definitely plays a role, especially in urban areas like Port Moresby, but a lot is down to very brutal tribal traditions. A woman was tortured and burnt alive on suspicion of being a witch, and gang-rapes are common. I've read of women being raped in prison by prison guards, and even of women being raped while they're in labor. Sickening doesn't even begin to describe some of the things done to women there...