Men Against Violence get AUSAID support







MBCSA Executive Officer Ana Latu Dickson (far right) and with writers of the Counselling Best Counselling Manual Father Joe Ensing, Sister Valentie Pozzi and Racheal George from MBCSA display the manuals

Australia is supporting a group of pioneering men gathered under the Milne Bay Counselling Services Association (MBCS) in their fight against Family and Sexual Violence in the province.

The Men Against Violence program engages men as social allies to tackle Family and Sexual Violence and they will be taking their fight to the patrilineal society of Goodenough Island, where family is traced exclusively through the male line.

Making this possible is K350, 000 in AusAID funding through the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen Large and Medium grant program.

With a membership of 38 men trained to provide counselling services to those affected by family sexual violence, the campaign aims to make men aware and empower them to speak out against gender based violence and the beliefs that sustain it.

The association’s executive director Ana Latu-Dickson says:  “We want to engage men as partners in the prevention of violence against women and to create a safe forum for men to discuss issues of masculinity.   We need to recognize that we all have the power to shape the way women are viewed and treated by society.  So, we want to use men, who are usually the perpetrators, to be agents of change and to advocate against Family Sexual Violence”.

Since its inception in 2002, Milne Bay Counselling Service Association has trained more than 300 male and female volunteer counsellors, many of whom work in very remote areas of the province. The counselling association also works with the police, village courts, local level government presidents and ward councillors to advocate against violence towards women and children.

This experience has led to the development of PNG’s first counselling competency standards, and a ‘National Training Manual on Counselling Best Practice’. The standards and manual have since been endorsed by the National Training Council (NTC), the National Apprenticeship Trade and Testing Board (NATTB) and thirty volunteers are currently undergoing assessment to gain accreditation as certified counsellors.

MBCSA is one of the five Non Government Organisations who signed AusAID Funding Deeds on 7 December 2012, for a total of PGK 1.6 million to carry out community projects targeting Health, Gender Equality and Law and Justice.

The other four organisations that received grants were:

·         Oil Palm Industry Cooperation who received K299, 000 for a gender equality project where 3000 palm oil growers in West New Britain will be trained on financial literacy and oil palm development.

·         Peace Foundation Melanesia received K380, 465 to train Community Justice Committees that assist village court officials in conflict resolution, with improved access to social justice, especially for women in the Southern Highlands Province.

·         West New Britain Community Development Forum received K142, 938 to train ten men and ten women to become certified village health volunteers and village birth attendants, who will provide rural health services in Talasea District.  They will also conduct site clinics and promote awareness of gender based violence and AIDS.

·         Uniting World received K500, 000 to improve provision of health services through the United Church by building an aid post, water supply and houses for health workers, in the New Ireland, Miline, Chimbu and Southern Highlands Provinces.



Edward Philip(centre blue), a male counsellor with MBCSA during a counselling visit with a family