GOV’T COMMITTED TO ENSURE LAW PROTECTS WOMEN AND CHILDREN: LILO
Part of the women that attended the congress. Photo credit: Douglas Marau.
The current caretaker government is committed to ensuring that the law protects women and children, says Caretaker Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo.
Prime Minister Lilo made the statement when he officially opened the Seventh Day Adventist Women Congress in Munda, Western Province this week.
The week long congress was attended by more than 2,000 women from different provinces all over the country.
Mr Lilo told the Congress, the recently passed Family Protection Act 2014 takes a clear stand against domestic violence and sets out mechanisms to protect victims of domestic violence – whether they are men, women, children, or persons with disabilities.
He said the law also sets out programs which will provide support for perpetrators through awareness, training and counselling.
He said it is clear in law that domestic violence is wrong and the law recognises that those who suffer domestic violence must be protected and helped to continue to live better lives.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has encouraged the women to use the congress to voice out their concerns and to share with each other on the issues affecting them in the country.
He said this is an opportunity to hear the voice of women in the church in seeking practical measures to address issues affecting women in the country.