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this page Newsletters - The International Year of the Family
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea, the vast majority of whose population live in rural areas, has undergone tremendous changes since gaining independence in 1975. In traditional PNG societies, a family meant the “extended family” and included grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. “Family” was not the nuclear family we have today of a father, mother and children. These extended families lived in closely-knit communities where the roles and responsibilities of its members were distinctive. These communities had social systems which governed the actions of its members. They also had ways of dealing with members who did not adhere to community norms. Today however, PNG communities are in touch with other communities and the outside world. The influence of media on the lives of families is massive. Both television and newspapers are easily accessible to families and make people aware that PNG is no longer isolated but belongs to the global community.
Advances for families in the past ten years
Families in PNG have seen an improvement in the education system during the past years. Most parents choose to send their children to Church agency rather than Government schools as they have a proven success rate. A few years ago, the Government introduced “Educational Reforms” which provided more opportunities for children and attempted to educate all citizens. Literacy has also improved in the past ten years. The country's only female Parliamentarian, Lady Carol Kidu, has been at the forefront in advocating literacy programmes. With her support and Government endorsement, the media are promoting literacy. Churches are also doing their best to promote literacy development.
PNG also has groups like the “Eastern Highlands Family Voice” and “Marriage and Family Life Office” which specialize in providing assistance and awareness on family issues. With support from other groups in town, the “Eastern Highlands Family Voice” initiated a move towards greater networking with the Justice Department. A committee called Provincial Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee, made up of health professionals, a magistrate, police, probation officers, welfare workers and others, meets regularly to discuss family matters and ways forward. The committee acts also as an advisory board for the Government and the groups represented. It is very active in the Eastern Highlands and similar committees are planned for other Provinces.
Problems
Family violence has increased tremendously over the past years. The media reports family violence, rape and incest cases almost daily. What is most disturbing is the rise of sexual violence against women and girls, together with physical violence. Although intruders into family homes carry out some assaults, family members do most of them.
Another increasing problem is couples getting involved in extra-marital affairs. This is becoming a serious concern for families since it is splitting them apart. It is claimed that more men than women are involved in extra-marital affairs and most female prisoners today are in prison for stabbing their husbands or their husbands' mistresses to death.
Polygamy is also on the rise and creating huge problems. This is not a new problem since polygamy was always present in the past, but today it seems that anybody can marry any number of wives they want regardless of whether they can support them. Today in the Highlands, more young women are choosing to become second or third wives because they think older men have more money. Other young women are choosing to be second or third wives married to older men because of HIV/AIDS. They are convinced that as second or third wives to older men they are safe against contracting HIV/AIDS. This false assumption is terrifying but nobody will convince them otherwise.
A child begging for food and money on the streets is becoming a common sight. It is common knowledge also in the Highlands that criminals use children to steal from people's homes. It seems that children are doing this because parents are working and not spending enough time with them. For a nation that prides itself on its strong kinship systems, it is sad to see children roaming the streets. This is a very new phenomenon in PNG. Families have always taken care of their own people and nobody ever begged for food.
Conclusion
Many problems have come with so-called modernization. On the other hand, life for families has also improved because PNG has embraced changes coming from the outside wholeheartedly. Papua New Guineans cannot dwell on the past nor can they ignore it. They need to use the good things of the past as a stepping stone into the future.
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