There's outrage in Papua New Guinea over a brutal attack on representative athlete Debbie Kaore by her partner in front of her children.
Debbie Kaore holding off the French defence during the 2019 Sydney Sevens. Photo: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
The 30-year-old has represented her country in rugby and won a gold medal in boxing at the 2015 Pacific Games.
The attack on Ms Kaore sparked swift condemnation in a country with appalling levels of domestic violence.
A graphic video posted on Ms Kaore's Facebook page showed her being headbutted by her partner Murray Oa, a lieutenant in the PNG Defence Force.
In disturbing footage, the mother of three, including a one month old son, then falls to the ground after being struck in the face with a hot iron, while her children watch on.
Ms Kaore claimed Mr Oa had previously threatened her with a metre-long knife when she was two weeks pregnant and last week said he would shoot her.
PNG rugby and boxing representative was assaulted by her partner as her children watched on. Photo: Supplied
PNG rugby league international Amelia Kuk said she was left traumatised after watching the footage of the assault.
"What makes it ok for a man to think that he can just lay his hands on someone he claims he loves and why are we in 2020 still talking about this?
"Why is the PNG government not doing anything about it? I have seen and read so many stories about women dying because of domestic violence, beaten to death by their husbands and nothing is done about it. Enough is enough - domestic violence is not ok."
The PNG Olympic Committee and Oceania Rugby were among the organisations to condemn the attack.
Condemnation too from 'Grass Skirts Project', where Debbie Kaore works an ambassador to spread awareness about gender-based violence.
The co-founder and CEO is PNG rugby league international Tahina Booth.
"People who commit violence against women should be thrown in jail," she said.
De'bono Paraka is a national discus representative who competed alongside Debbie Kaore at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
He said Debbie Kaore allowed him to repost the photos of her injuries and the video of the attack to show the public what was happening to many women behind closed doors.
"I wanted it to go viral," Mr Paraka.
"I talked with my other sporting friends and friends close to me and we decided to use the power of social media and just get the attention on what happened to her and the guy's face - to know that this is the monster that did it to her - and just get public outcry.
"This is a serious incident that deserves absolute scrutiny and attention too."
He said violence against women remained a major problem in Papua New Guinea and needed to change.
Lt Murray Oa surrendered himself to the PNG Defence Force Military Police. Photo: Supplied
"I feel the laws for gender based violence and things against women, it's been written by men for women where women should have the biggest input in those type of situations."
"It's very rare for males to suffer from it but females is the majority so I feel there can be a lot more done by us as people and the government to really tackle it and say zero tolerance," Mr Paraka said
Lieutenant Murray Oa had since surrended himself to Military Police and he was being interviewed by the Police Family and Sexual Violence Unit.
Police also issued an Interim Protection Order for Debbie Kaore, who was being looked after by family.
The Prime Minister James Marape also spoke out following the attack, urging the men of Papua New Guinea to respect and not beat up women and girls.
Mr Marape said "at family levels, violence begets violence, it does not solve problems", urging men to "Talk away or walk away from marriage problems instead of fighting in marriage".
A GoFundMe page has been set-up to help cover Debbie Kaore's medical costs and to ultimately help provide a safer place for her and her children to live, while PNG athletes will also hold a fundraising drive in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
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