SEX, WOMEN AND THE 21ST CENTURY IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
DAME CAROL KIDU
Thursday March 8 (International Women’s Day)
8pm
Venue: Manning Clarke Lecture Hall 2, Australian National University.
Pregnancy is the greatest killer of teenage girls in the world. Girls in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are particularly vulnerable as hospital births are rare. Contraception is generally difficult to obtain, especially for unmarried women. Meanwhile, violence against women, including sexual violence, is endemic. Extremely restrictive abortion laws (including a ban on abortion in cases of rape and incest) ensure that young women die regularly from unsafe abortion. Sexually transmitted infections are prevalent with HIV rates increasing steadily. PNG is a devout nation with many denominations. Christianity is an integral part of PNG culture and strongly influences the reproductive health services available to women.
What would improve the situation for PNG women?
Dame Carol Kidu is the only current female member of the Papua New Guinea Parliament. She was born in Queensland and met her PNG husband, the late PNG Chief Justice Sir Buri Kidu, at a school camp. She has spent her adult life in PNG and worked as a teacher before embarking on a political career. Dame Carol won the Port Moresby South Constituency in 1997 and has focused her efforts on supporting women in the community.
Join us for light refreshments in the foyer prior to the lecture.
Enquiries:
E pameladenoonlecture@hotmail.com T 0457 206 887
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