The Governor of Papua New Guinea's National Capital District, Powes Parkop, says gender-based violence in PNG has become an epidemic.
Powes Parkop, the governor of Papua New Guinea's National Capital District. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
He said despite efforts to address the escalating violence, the country still had a long way to go.
The Post Courier reported Mr Parkop saying PNG had come a long way but despite this, the full potential of women was not being realised.
Speaking on International Women's Day he said gender-based violence was not a woman's issue but a developmental issue, a human rights issue and a matter for all to address.
The Governor's message to men was that if they don't respect women it showed they were weak.