Evaluation of an existing VSAT Project in Maramuni LLG, Enga Province

Introduction
VSAT is the short forms for Very Small Aperture Terminals. They are a compact satellite dish mated with the necessary electronic hardware to create an earth station. The earth station consisted of a small antenna and other devices to interface between the antenna and the end user equipment’s. The end user equipment could be one or more personal computers, telephone, a PBX, a video receiver/ player or any combination of these. VSAT can directly receive signals from the satellite and transmitthat signals to the various end users like, telephone, radio, personal computers for email and internet. A VAST can link, a few or if necessary, hundreds of site, includingremote geographical locations.
The following discussion will evaluate a VSAT project that was set up in Maramuni LLG in Enga Province by Hon. Robert Ganim, MP Member for Wabag Open.

Background of the Project
Marumani is one of the most remote areas in Enga Province. It is approximately 20,000 kilometres away from the Wabag town. It is one of the densely populated areas that have little government infrastructural service since independence until last year, that VSAT project was set up under the leadership Hon. Robert Ganim.  It has a rugged geography and numerous mountains that becomes the social barrier to reach government services to the area. Therefore, this VSAT project is not only improving the communication technology but also it is enhancing the standard of living in the area. The people of Maramuni now turned to benefit a lot from this project.

The VSAT project in Maramuni in Wabag District, Enga Province is initiated by MP for Wabag Open, Honourable Robert Ganim to implement rural communication services to deliver quality services in the LLG. The project was started in the month of April andcompleted in August last year – 2013 under the digital strategy defined in the Vision 2050. The project aims to bridge the digital divide between the rural and urban dichotomy and equally to harness the strategic role of ICT in the provincial level. The project aims to provide affordable high speed internet access, telephone, and radio access to people of Maramuni in Enga Province often disadvantaged by geographical and social barriers for so long.

Installation of VSAT Project
Design and installation of VSAT Project in Maramuniwas done by Telikom PNG. Telecom PNG is the country’s leading VAST project provider and other services as well. Maramuni is one of them currently accessing digital services from VSAT project that was set up by Telekom PNG.
Site preparation for VSAT Installation project in Maramuni took more than four months to set up all the physical components. Due to the road conditions, materials were picked up by the helicopter at Wabag town and shifted to Maramuni station. Site survey was done by the group of expert Astronomical surveyors which it took almost a week to complete. The actual set up of typical VSAT components was done by electronic and communication engineers from India.  They did set up 60 solar panels to generate power of a VSAT Unit and light for the people living close to the station. Satellite link analysis was done by the electronic engineers using some of their test equipment with the help of Inter Facility Link (IFL) cables.

 

Benefits of the project.

VSAT provides a lot of technological benefits to the Maramuni LLG. Since the establishment of the project up to this date, Maramuni people have seen a lot of changes in their community. Below are some of the befits that they gained through the VSAT project.
Maramuni is out of network coverage because it is very far from the Wabag Town. People of Maramuni did not use any form of communication in the area for the past years. However, through this VSAT project people are very fortunate to make calls to their relatives at other centres of PNG and even across the world. The VSAT stations will interface with the satellite and it can receive configuration and then transmit signals. When phone calls are made, VSAT transmits the voice over the network through the satellite through the wave signals to the receiver and the voice is heard. “The very small aperture terminals (VSATs) are a compact satellite dish mated with the necessary electronic hardware to create an earth station. The earth station consists of a small antenna and other devices to interface between the antenna and the end-user equipment.” 
There are many benefits of using VSAT Satellite Networking but in Maramuni, Radio broadcasting would be more important and it is very beneficial to the entire population. Maramuni is a big area and people are scatted to live in villages. There was a mini radio station set up within the Aid post premises which used to announce relevant news updates. The radio station is very helpful and people enjoyed very much. It was used for community announcement, important notices, public awareness, public news, current affairs, and etc. The communication through radio broadcasting is used with the wide area network. Hence, the radio can be switched to different stations like 90. 3 Yumi FM or 90. 6 Miok FM and they can up to date with current affairs.  The Internet, Radio applications and other technologies are become useful and very beneficial to Maramuni in the real life situation.
VSAT provides the locals with network and people enjoy access via internet.  VSAT helps them with the provision of the networks and those people who access through social media like facebook, twitter, linkedIn know what is happening across the country and globe as a whole. Those people who are from remote area can pose a question on the Facebook or an email a person to know what happens around the country.  For instance; a person from NCD can update what is happening in the floor of parliament and someone from Maramuni can read the post via VSAT network. Hence, the VSAT in the remote areas make things possible for the people of PNG to know where and to which extend we are moving through the development of this young nation in the desire of reaching vision 2050 of the governments strategic plan.
Satellite communication using VSAT makes it possible to provide reliable data communication to any point on earth. Muramuni VSAT project sets up e-mail link, telephone, radio, in which those services update people with latest information every day. Currently they are able to exchange ideas through e-mail, make comments and share their ideas with internet users all over the world in a cost effective manner. Maramuni VSAT project offers free electronic communication networks which it enables all the users to excess the information without any cost. Provincial government is responsible for service fee to the internet company.

Problem associated with the project.  
Since the establishment of VSAT project in Maramuni up to this date, least number of people, especially the professionals and some other semi-literate are benefiting from the services provided. Due to lack of proper information services, training, and awareness about that VSAT project, it does not reach the bulk of the population who are living there. That is because they did not set up any information training center to disseminate the information about the importance of that project. It was the greatest mistake ever made by the implementers of the project because users are lacking behind technology.

 

Relevance to the Government Development Strategies (Vision 2050)

The introduction of the VSAT project in the LLG will enable people to use the technology into their door steps. Closing the digital divide in Marumuni will not suffice to close the knowledge divide, for access to useful, relevant knowledge is more than simply a matter of infrastructure—it depends on training, cognitive skills and regulatory frameworks geared towards access to contents. The rural community will have the advantage to close the digital gap unless they have above cognitive skills, training which it will automatically close the knowledge gap. They have the equal chances of being information literate and knowledgeable especially in information and communication technology. They will be more digitalized and are fortunate to connect them to the rest of the world. It will improve the quality of lives and transformed them into a new standard of living.  People in the rural areas will now be smart and healthier in line with the Vision 2050. This project is a step towards the government’s strategic plans and policy in developing PNG to the next level. People of Maramuni are now become the evidence of achieving Vision 2050 when this project was introduced by their local MP Hon. Robert Ganim as part of delivering tangible development to the electorate.

Conclusion

To conclude, the VSAT project in Maramuni brings significant changes to the rural communities and people are having access to quality information that is very essential that can improve their lives. The project has many positive impacts in the LLG. That is a government’s commitment in extending and delivering services to the rural areas as their obligated duty to bring tangible development to the electorate and province as a whole. The action initiated by the local MP, Hon. Robert Ganim is a land mark in the history of Maramuni after being neglected by several MPs for several years. Consequently, the project will alleviate the digital divide in the societies and people will become information literate. In this way, the society will be transformed and the community will never be the same. The people will be very smarter, healthier and a happier society in line with achieving the Vision 2050.

           

ICT Usage At Hohola Youth Development Centre

Written by:

Kasi Nathaniel; Pono Walter; Pongi Richard and Manuai Barthol
 
Introduction
According to Wikipedia online (http://wikipedia/wiki/Digital_divide) , digital divide is defined as an economic and social inequality according to categories of persons in a given population in their access to, use of or knowledge of information and communication technologies (ICT).It is a term used to describe the gap between those who have ready access to information and communication technologies, and those who do not have access or skills to those same technologies within a geographic area, society or community. It is and economic or social inequality between individuals or groups of persons.

Definition and Background of the Project.
We have identified an existing ICT project which was funded by AusAID through the Incentive Fund initiative of the Australian Government to the Hohola Youth Development Centre.
The Hohola Youth Development Centre is an educational institution   established and managed by the Catholic Mission Agency through the De La Salle Brothers in partnership with the Department of Education and the Australian government with the goal of alleviating the high level of illiteracy of all nature among youths being unable to attain formal education or unable to continue to high schools and secondary schools.
Hohola Development Centre is as long-term partner of PNG Tribal Foundation. The school provides academic and vocational training for 600 students who come from challenging situations and often live in settlements. Because of HYDC’s successful internship program, 99% of graduates have jobs by the time they receive their diplomas.
Every year the school turns down 250 applicants due to lack of space and resources. Many of the HYDC’s students go without meals in order to pay their bus fares to and from the school. The breakfast club at Hohola provides breakfast three mornings a week for students who sometimes have difficulties concentrating on studies due to hunger pains. Generally 300 students eat at the Breakfast Club three days a week.

Significance of the Project and Identification of the Stakeholders.
The significance of the Project is to empower an educated and knowledgeable population to face the challenges of an increasingly globalized world through the use of Information and Communication Technology. ICT can play a pivotal role at the various layers of education in PNG.
The purpose of the AusAID Incentive Fund is to introduce ICT in learning and education and to promote ICT as an important tool to achieve advanced education targets.
The Project donation by the AusAID was to set up a  a wireless broadband and local area network in the centre so that staff and students can teach and learn, enhancing their knowledge of  ICT such as the internet, basic computer hardware and software operations and the different types of networks (LAN/WAN) and their operations.
In 2012, the AusAID donated some ICT infrastructures to the school to fulfil that initiative. The donation includes 44 laptops, 44 docking stations, 2 desktops, 47 power supplies, 5 laptop bags, 5 mouse and two servers with routers and infrastructure  grant to build new classrooms (AusAID Donates to Schools, The National, Thursday – 9^th August, 2012; pg.5).
The AusAID (Australian Agency for International Development) was the Australian Government Agency responsible for managing their aid programs overseas until 31^st October 2013, when it ceased to be an incentive of the Aid and was integrated into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The objective of the Aid is to assist developing countries like Papua New Guinea to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line with Australia’s national interests. AusAID is now providing advice and support to the Minister for Foreign Affairs for planned and co-ordinated poverty reduction activities in partnership with developing countries.   
 
Relevance of the Project to the Government Development Strategies (Vision 2050)
The project’s relevance to the government development strategies (vision 2050) is stated in the “Human capital Development, Gender Youth and People Empowerment (PNG Vision 2050, p.5) which seeks to promote collaborations and partnerships with private education providers, community organisations, church groups, other government organisations and private entities such as mining companies so that experiences and ideas can be shared towards fulfilling the PNG’s Vision 2050 in educating and empowering a knowledgeable population of Papua New Guinea.
The quality of education to all citizens of PNG is important and the use of ICT in education can achieve the educational goals of the PNG Vision 2050 through high speed learning.
 Problems Associated with the Project.

• Lack of strategic planning which leads to shortages of resources such as classrooms.
•  Poor literacy level of students. Many students enrolled are computer illiterates thus slowing down the level of learning. This is because they have not used or learn computer skills earlier in their lives as in primary schools.
• Over enrolment of students. Over 400 students are enrolled in the center with less resource such as computer laboratories and classrooms. Many students weren’t able to access computers because of the overcrowding of classrooms.
•  Lack of ICT experts. Teachers are not consistently re-trained to keep up with the updated ICT standard worldwide. Teachers lack competency in the use ICT infrastructures and how to manage those infrastructures.
• Misuse of resources by staff. Centre Staff handling and taking the laptops to their houses for personal use.
•   Vandalism and theft.39 laptops donated by AusAID were stolen from the laboratory after thieves managed to hold up the guards and breaking into the lab (The National, Sept 2013,pg; 3.)

Recommendations

Given the problems and issues associated with the project, we have come up with recommendations and suggestions to each of the issues faced to achieve a high standard learning environment in the center.

• There must be better strategies of the allocation and distribution of funds received from donations so that resources are readily made available to cater for the growing school population. Stakeholders and managing Agencies must be transparent in managing funds from donations to cater for the needs of improvement to students learning facilities.
•   Students must be categorized into different grades or levels of learning so they are consistent in what they learn.
•   Managing agencies must be consistent in their enrolment annually making sure that the amount of students they enrol can have full access to these learning infrastructures.
•   The staff must be annually re-trained to keep up with the advancement in the ICT world.
•  Monthly or yearly evaluation of the projects should be in existence to maintain and coup with the ever-changing information and communication technology.
• There must be strict monitoring over the use of these ICT facilities by the staffs.
• Engagement of well-trained security personals to guard the premises to protect from theft and vandalism. Apart from that, fence should be built around the premises.

Summary

The effectiveness of ICT is a tool for the enhancement of learning and education through partnership programs in the light of PNG’s Vision 2050. The work of the stakeholders needs to be recognised by the government for support.Given the relevant legislative and policy support and through partnerships, ICT services and applications can provide quality education to the majority of the growing population.By using ICT based services and applications, the quality of learning can be greatly enhanced where both teachers and students can benefit from ICT without wasting time, money and effort on out-dated resources.

VSAT Project in Yuri Village, Simbu Province

Written by;

Hombande Gladwin; John Jeremy; and Nahua Johnson   

Background of the Project

 Yuri Village is located approximately 120 kilometres, south of Kundiawa in the Simbu Province. The Very Small Aperture Terminal or VSAT for short is a two-way satellite ground station or a stabilized maritime VSAT antenna with a dish antenna that is smaller than 3 meters. In simple terms it is a satellite dish that will enable people from the remote places to send and retrieve information through technological devices such as mobile phone devices, radios and computers. Yuri village is so remote that the use of information and communications technology is non-existent.

 The evaluation report on VSAT in Yuri Village was basically compiled and documented with the aid of marking guide and the framework distributed in class and the information in this report was from a hand-out based on a case study for Yuri Village given by the Management Information Systems Course lecturer Mr Nogini Miopa. This report is basically in five parts which are; Definition and Background of the Project, Historical Background, Significance of The Project and Identification of Stake Holders, Effects/Issues/Problems Associated with the Project, Relevance to Government’s Development Strategies (Vision 2050) and finally Recommendations/Suggestions that may help the project to succeed in the future.

Historical Background

Yuri village is surrounded with pristine mountain environment, rain forest, cool climate, natural vegetation and clean mountain streams. The village is about 2hours drive by tough road conditions from the provincial headquarters, Kundiawa. The village has approximately a total population of 5000 people. Almost 80 per cent of the population is illiterate. Most of them are not fully aware of the development issues such as HIV/AIDS, politics, climate change, education, and many other issues that is affecting not only them but the country as a whole. Access to media such as newspaper, television, radio, video, telephone services is non-existent.

  Significance of the Project and Identification of the Stakeholders

The VSAT technology will help bridge the digital divide so that people can have access to proper and factual information that will help build their society. This is because many of the people have been either misinformed or have wrong public perceptions of issues such as HIV/AIDS epidemic which are often ridiculed with myths, innocence, suspicion, stigma and fear. Many of the HIV/AIDS deaths are believed by many people to be sorcery related. The project is there to help bridge the knowledge divide as well so it will give a proper insight to the people regarding such issues.
The project also aims to provide high speed internet access, telephone and radio access to the Yuri village that is often disadvantaged by geographical, physical and social barriers.
The Department of National Planning (DNP) in partnership with the Telekom PNG, Simbu Provincial Administration, South Simbu District Administration and Digine Local Level Government and Yuri Village community are the main shareholders undertaking the collaborative community VSAT project in the village. The project requires the installation of VSAT technology to facilitate access to telephone, mobile phone services, radio broadcasting services and internet services.

Problems associated with the Project

Since almost 80 per cent of the population is illiterate, the VSAT technology might not be fully utilized and may become obsolete over time. People must know how to use a certain infrastructure, for example the VSAT technology before it can be used. In the case of Yuri Village, the government and the stakeholders made the project become a reality however; many of the people do not know how to use the VSAT technology and very soon it may become obsolete and useless.
The VSAT technology may not transmit data and information due to the physical topography and the location of the village. As the village is so remote and is surrounded by rugged mountain terrains and the climate and weather is unpredictable, it may affect the transmission of the signals required to send and retrieve information.
There should be more funding coming from the stakeholders to carry out awareness on how to use the project and also to maintain and upgrade the VSAT technology. However, many a times most of the projects such as the Yuri VSAT project lies idle and eventually become of no use due to lack of funding.
There are some people who fears or dislikes the use of new technology such as the VSAT technology. It is common to many rural and remote places where new technologies are being introduced into. This might be a barrier to the use of VSAT in Yuri.

Relevance to the Government’s Development Strategies (Vision 2050)

According to the PNG Vision 2050 Handbook, under pillar 1 specifically 1.17.1 Human Development; Section 1.17.7.3 Infrastructure and Utilities, subsection 1.17.7.3.6 states that to increase communication access from 10 per cent to 100 per cent of the population.
Also under subsection 1.17.7.3.11 of infrastructure and utilities the government is to establish a communications satellite network for Papua New Guinea and Yuri VSAT project is that type of satellite networking project.
The VSAT project in Yuri is also significant to subsection 1.23 Infrastructure where it specifically states in subsection 1.23.1 is that the development of high quality infrastructure is critical to ensure that there is effective service delivery. The construction and maintenance of high quality communication networks such as Yuri VSAT Technology in Simbu province will create economic corridors and increase service delivery.

Recommendations

 In view of this we recommended that in order for the project to be more effective in the future, more stakeholders must be involved to support and maintain the project. Also if such project is to be carried out in other remote places, there should be some form of awareness or trainings conducted in the particular locality on how to use such new technologies and infrastructure. Initiate contact with the stakeholders and the government to take part in development of the VSAT technology, so that it become useful and people will understand and use the content of the service provided otherwise the services provided and the money used will not outweigh the benefits.

Title: The Use Of Facebook By Students Of The University Of Papua New Guinea

By: George Sikin (ICS Student)

 03^rd  of  May, 2013

The role social media/network has come to play in this information age is an issue no individual can ignore. It has huge impact on the personal and professional lives of people. Indeed, its influence spans globally and it is rapidly growing in terms of its users, applications, innovations, and modifications. Of course, it is an information and communication tool. For the purpose of clarity and coherent sequencing in the context of this presentation, the terms ‘social network’ and ‘social network’ shall be interchangeably used because they can be taken as synonyms. Examples of social media tools in this contemporary age include Facebook, Twitter, Linkedln and Ning only to name a few.

This paper bears my findings regarding the use of Facebook as information and communication tool by doing a mini research on randomly selected students here in the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG). I interviewed them with respect to time usage, the financial cost, what Facebook means to their personal and professional lives, and their perceptions on the effectiveness of this tool.

I carried out an interview on 20 fellow students of equal gender participation. They all admitted to having exposure on Facebook. A mere 10% said they deactivated their Facebook accounts whereas the rest can be summed up in the humorous reply of one who said, “Facebook is our life, our very breath.” That fascinated me and caused me to ask them (the 90% currently on Facebook) the very next logical question: How often do they go on Facebook? Using a closed-interview method, I gave them to choose from a range of time frame. Surprisingly (maybe because I’m not on Facebook), almost all except 3 interviewees replied by saying they ‘surf’on Facebook once every 10 minutes, even in the classes and while interacting physically with their environment. Indeed, my generation swims along with the tide of this technological age. In unified chorus of gesture, they all claim to like Facebook.    

I was all the more overwhelmed when they responded to my query of how much money in terms of their sim card units they can estimate spending just to ensure they go on Facebook. 15/17 currently on Facebook admitted they lost track of either the actual or approximate spending on accessing this tool. The other two students were financially manageable enough to say they spend roughly around K20/week on Facebook accessibility. The ones that deactivated expressed that one of the very reason they did so were not because they disliked this social media tool, but that because they seemed not to have any control over their spending when it comes to keeping up friends, events and news on Facebook page.  

Worthy for consideration was the fact I found that all of them admitted that Facebook is a very important information and communication tool. Of the 20 I interviewed, 6 of them happened to be current executives in their respective association and affiliation groups on campus (UPNG). They all admitted Facebook helps them in posting their notices or ‘Toksave’ as they put it in pidgin, out to their members. One brave respondent among them sarcastically commented it’s about time we do away with the notice boards in the campus. He made a profound statement that students are now more phone/technologically conscious. He convinced me greatly because I myself get tired of seeing a lot of papers pinned on the notice boards. In many instances, it looks so untidy and unworthy of our claim to be the Premier University in the Pacific. The responses from the rest of the others said they now feel they can be anywhere at any one time- thanks to Facebook. 4 others (all female respondents) jokingly said they are able to communicate with their mothers about the ‘girls stuff’ frequently. All of them find this tool very effective for information and communication purposes.

Asked about their general perception of this tool, they all agreed that Facebook is an excellent information and communication tool that synchronizes well with the demand of the time we’re living in. They believed the designer of this tool saw a vast need and purposed in his heart to resolve it. However, with mixed feelings of sadness and anger, they spelt out their sentiments with regard to the attitude of its users. Criticisms uncalled for, images that are morally degrading, and relationships that once embraced the essence of loyalty but are not anymore, are some of the evil effects of ‘sick’ users of this well-intended tool.

On a personal level after conducting this research, I came to appreciate this tool, Facebook. I deactivated my account therein because of the immense negativeness that violated my Christian ethics. However, a critical evaluation of the responses from my participants revealed that it is more benefiting to be on Facebook. There’s a lot more to gain- professional affiliations, current social developments, and a wider community of people who may share common interests with me. Almost all my research respondents maintained that despite the negatives one shall encounter, it is ‘a sin of the age not to keep up with the relevant tool of the age- Facebook’ (The National, p.34). Of course, my perception changed while in the course of carrying out my research. I must also state my conviction that my findings can and must be treated as a great reflection of the use of this tool in the lives of many citizens of this nation, especially the student population.

PNG women using Facebook to campaign against domestic violence

By Lawrence Boi

Political Science Student

University of Papua New Guinea

9th of May, 2013

Fig.1.0 ICS Department_UPNG

In the contemporary society, social media has proven to be a reliable source for communication and information. The rate at which social media is adopted is fast becoming epidemic in the everyday lives of both the rural and urban population of Papua New Guinea. Every now and then people walking on the streets, at the work place, in schools, doing businesses, and or elsewhere on leisure purposes are exposed to some form of social media for communication and information. The importance of social media is significant in the more modern day lives of Papua New Guineans. The explosion in the use of social media by Papua New Guineans is changing the way that they are engaging in politics, business and social activities on the home front. It is also changing the way that the international community is engaging with Papua New Guinea.

This paper will illustrate how women in Papua New Guinea utilize Facebook to promote the issue of domestic violence ,especially house wives, to raise concerns on some of the social issues they face in their daily lives. Facebook has open up the minds of women to take a stand in addressing and raising concerns on domestic violence and social issues commonly faced in their daily lives.

There are estimated to be about 30,000 Facebook users in PNG but the number might be much higher. Every day new Facebook accounts are being created and many Papua New Guineans are able to communicate using this medium (Yochai 2012). There are 60% male users and 40% female users in Papua New Guinea out of the total Facebook users.

House-wives have found Facebook very useful in their lives. With the innovative intervention of Facebook some Papua New Guinean house-wives have been able to express their consent on political debates, economical discussions and raise concern on social issues affecting them. In a male dominated society women are given little or no chance at all to express their freewill and rights. However, this has turned around to some certain degree where women are now at liberty to be involved in the political, social and economy spheres of life through the usage of social media/networking such as Facebook. Commonly, women feel reluctant to come out to speak of their consent in public but, contrarily, Facebook enables them to become active participants in point of discussions on surrounding issues that affects their livelihood through social networking.

Domestic violence is commonly faced by most Papua New Guinean house-wives. In 2011, Facebook groups were set up by social media users in PNG to protest police inaction in certain cases. For example, a former policeman, Simon Bernard, who had been beating his wife regularly over a six-year period, was finally brought to justice. A Facebook group created page, ‘Papua New Guineans against domestic violence’, in response to the media reports and used by Facebook members to express their anger and frustration, engage in debate on the issue, as well as share domestic violence stories. This Facebook group, which attracted 5,000 members in its first 48 hours, also received coverage across blogs in PNG and in international media including the Huffington Post.

This domestic assault case prompted civil society groups to use online and social media tools to encourage Papua New Guineans to sign a petition and to demand action from the local police. After receiving over 500 emails, the PNG superintendent in charge of the case appealed for public help in the case and was forced to launch an investigation into allegations that police had been harboring Simon Bernard. Today this Facebook group remains a site to discuss domestic violence issues in PNG. It contains emergency contact information so that victims of domestic violence in PNG have access to immediate support as well as to health and sexual violence centers.

New civil rights women’s groups have been using Facebook to launch their protest against violence on women in Papua New Guinea. Posted image and pictures of women leading the campaign and other photos of women being beaten with bruises, scars, cuts and swollen face were uploaded on Facebook for media attention. Upon the concern raised on Facebook, Peter O’Niell's government provided their support by posting a link to an article released by the Eoin Blackwell, AAP PNG Correspondence on Facebook. Peter O, Neil stated that ‘domestic violence is set to become a criminal offence in PNG’. Through the effort of women campaigning against domestic violence on Facebook has attracted attentions from the government.  

 Social media is a vital tool for information and communication that can be effectively used to address developmental issues as well as social issues encountered in Papua New Guinea. The latest intervention of Facebook users has greatly helped women to  fight violence against women in PNG. Increasing number of women from all over PNG have shown their interest and support by joining   this Facebook group. Women are now fighting violence against women on Facebook and have been rapidly getting responses from the public at an amazing rate. Social media can also be used in such areas of life to bring out public concerns in relation to inequalities and disruption in societies.

See:

Stop Domestic Violence in Papua New Guinea