The following story deals with violence against women and children.

“The Family Support Center is a clinic where we provide a one-stop shop for gender-based violence victims.
I’m a clinical supervisor. We see a lot of bruises, black eye, broken bones, broken teeth. Children who have been abused, and rape cases. 

As a woman working in that area, it’s very challenging. I feel scared sometimes for my own safety, because people come and verbally attack us. You know I’m a human being, so I feel stressed out and I feel like giving up.
But it’s for the passion of helping others, to see them smile again, to put a smile on the mother’s face or the child’s face, to see them recovering well. That helps me to do more."

If you experience violence in Papua New Guinea, free and confidential help is available. Call the Family Support Centre on 324 8245 or the gender-based violence hotline on 7150 8000.

For more information on preventing violence visit: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/health-topics/violence