Papua New Gianea

Rape surges in Papua New Gianea

THE incidence of rape in Papua New Guinea had risen dramatically and children as young as 10 years were involved in pack rape, according to a report released in Port Moresby in December.

“Rape has increased in PNG and has become extremely violent and random,” said the PNG Law and Justice Baseline Survey of Community Initiatives.

The report was released by Australian aid agency AusAID.

Pack rape was particularly violent and sometimes fatal.

“An emerging trend in pack rape is the diverse ages of offenders. Children as young as 10 are now involved,” the report said.

The report said accurate statistics were unavailable because many cases of rape went unreported.

“However the number of rapes reported has increased dramatically from 285 in 1980 to 1,896 in 1990 (rpt 1990),” the report said.

The perceived inferior status of women promoted sexual violence, and many women and girls had developed a fatalistic outlook and believed that forced sexual intercourse must be accepted as part of

womanhood. Rape, especially pack rape, was a way of asserting male superiority and solidarity, the report said.

Young, unemployed men involved in rape tried to justify their actions by claim ing lack of access to desirable women; an urge to teach educated, liberated young women or girls a lesson; the acceptability of a man sharing his girlfriend with other friends; a payback for turning down a request for sexual intercourse; or the influ ence of alcohol or drugs.

The report said the incidence of rape

was especially high in PNG’s Highlands,

where it had become a common element in tribal fighting. Rape also occurred around the bush discos where young girls and women were abducted and raped. Armed hold-ups and burglaries were also accom panied by incidences of rape.

The report said violence against women - including rape and assault - was a conse quence of a breakdown of traditional con straints on men and the influence of the

urban lifestyle.

“The climate of tolerance of violence against women is enhanced by apparent institutional support in the laws relating to polygamy and rape - it is still legal for a man to rape his wife or wives in PNG,” the report said. (AAP) ■