My Journey Through GBV and the Path Toward Peace

What Peace Means to Me

On a daily basis, peace is both emotional and practical. Emotionally, I find peace when I am alone with my four daughters. In those moments, we laugh, share jokes, and speak freely without fear or discrimination. Practically, peace means guiding them toward independence—encouraging them to study hard, pursue careers, and secure financial freedom. I remind them that true peace comes when they can make their own choices without being bound by violence or cultural obligations. i have also encouraged them to take part in social events so that they free their minds from our Home's problems and situations. My daughters (1st and 2nd) started playing football and the 1st born has excelled in her part as a Goalkeeper, having represented PNG in the Under-20 Women's Football team to play in Fiji and she has won 3 Golden Glove awards consecutively (years). I find peace seeing them enjoying life outside in other social activities and excelling in their interests.

I also find peace when my husband is sober. In those rare moments, we can talk openly, and I feel a sense of calm. But my deepest peace comes from seeing my daughters succeed—my eldest now in university, my second continuing to secondary school. Their progress is proof that my encouragements are not wasted.

Daily Life and Community Challenges

In my community, peace is fragile. Violence against women has long been normalized through customs like bride price, which men use as leverage to control their wives. But recently, community leaders introduced by-laws that discourage GBV. These laws have made men realize that beating or verbally abusing their wives carries consequences. As a result, wife beating has decreased, and women feel a greater sense of safety.

Still, challenges remain. Alcohol abuse fuels violence, and many women continue to suffer silently. Families often prioritize cultural obligations over women’s welfare, leaving survivors trapped.

A Turning Point

My turning point came when I realized my husband would not change. After years of abuse, I sought counseling and protection through Family PNG. That decision shifted my view of peace: I understood that peace is not waiting for an abuser to change, but creating safety and strength for myself and my daughters.

Women’s Realities

Women and girls around me are deeply affected by conflict, insecurity, and violence. Many are silenced by cultural expectations, yet they resist by seeking counseling, supporting one another, and embracing education. I see women leading for peace by enforcing community by-laws, standing against GBV, and encouraging their daughters to pursue careers. Survival is not just about enduring—it is about transforming pain into empowerment.

Recommendations for Global Leaders

If I could speak to global leaders, I would ask them to understand that peace is not only the absence of war—it is the daily freedom from violence in our homes and communities. To make peace attainable:

1. Support community-driven laws that discourage GBV and hold perpetrators accountable.
2. Invest in education for girls, because financial independence is the pathway to freedom.
3. Strengthen counseling and survivor networks, so women do not feel alone in their struggles.
4. Address alcohol abuse and cultural practices that perpetuate violence.

Peace for me is seeing my daughters grow into independent women, free to make their own choices. Peace for my community is when women no longer live in fear, but in dignity and equality.