‘GENDER APPRECIATION’, a storytelling documentary, was screened by PNG Tribal Foundation to over 40 women and girls, even school children, at the Salvation Army Church, Kaugere in Moresby South, last Friday.
Mixtures of emotions, tears shared, a sense of guilt and frustration, while some were ashamed because of what they’ve gone through after the documentary was watched, recalling the ordeal and experiences of how gender-based violence has been rooted in their homes and communities.
Amongst the 41 attendees were eight males, mostly youths, who attended the free screening and also reflected on their parents and have pledged to value women and allow more women making decisions.
A woman (named) from Milne Bay, married for 15 years, shared the ordeal of violence she endured in her home with the children. It was a nightmare that she blamed her parents for stopping her attending a nursing college in Central Province, which led her to a forced marriage.
“Marriage is one of the biggest responsibilities and it’s not easy when you face violence at home every day from your husband who was supposed to love and protect you, and I have been living a hell with my four children,” she said.
“There are many women facing violence at their homes and we all need to come out from this.”
A woman from Gulf said violence was common in the settlements and affected children.
The documentary portrays real life women go through, and men must change the way they see women and value them.
Another woman said the film was important and must be watched by more men to shift their mindset on valuing women, important roles females place at home, raising children, running a small business, keeping family and home in order, and importantly, women must be given equal opportunities when making decisions, setting out rules, accessing education, and being loved.
The film is an anti-violence campaign awareness that Tribal Foundation carried out in communities, especially in hotspot communities where domestic violence is seen as normal, and the film focused on shifting mindsets of individuals to value women in society.
Tribal Foundation’s President GT Bustin said film screening in communities includes communication tools, a personal pledge, and facilitated community discussion where participants are allowed to share and reflect on the film, how they understand and what they understand about gender-based violence.
The film has been shown in Australia and the United States with over 500 showings, and it is entirely in Tok Pisin with English subtitles for viewing in Australia and the United States, as well as for international audiences within PNG.
The reach of the film since its rollout in 2015 has been to over 17 provinces and has impacted approximately 200,000 Papua New Guinean lives.