_ voice mambesak _"Many people still use violence to solve problems. Even parents and teachers believe that if corporal punishment is not used, the children will not have discipline," Dwi Utari, senior assistant program that is responsible for the child and the protection of mothers in the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Papua, told IRIN.

UNICEF show that in 2011, in a survey conducted in 29 districts of three of Papua between 67 and 79 percent of children under age 15 said they had been physically punished, with 24-31 percent showed "severe" physical punishment. The findings suggest that those who are responsible for protecting children - parents, caregivers, teachers - often perpetuate violence.

However, the figures may not reflect the reality, since many cases of gender violence in Papua remain unreported, says Margaretha Hanita, vice chairman of government-run Center for Empowerment of Women and Children in Jakarta, the capital. In 2012 the National Commission recorded the highest number of incidents here - 1,699 per 10,000 women.

"In Jakarta, many women have the courage to report and have greater access to information about where to report," unlike in Papua, where there is awareness about and advocate on this issue, as well as lower levels of formal education, "says Hanita ,

The Asian Human Rights Commission said in May 2011, the indigenous Papuan women reported high rates of domestic violence committed by their husbands and partners, and little protection from the police or state institutions.

Why so cruel?

Papua, which consists of the provinces of West Papua and Papua, a region dominated by ethnic Melanesian population of 3.8 million. It is rich in natural resources, including the largest gold deposits in the world, but lagged the rest of the country in several indicators of development. Guinea has one of the largest budget of the country's 34 provinces - nearly US $ 600 million in 2012 - and the fifth highest gross regional product.

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But human development rank among the lowest nations, including adult literacy rate of only 64 percent, and less than six years, on average, of formal schooling per inhabitant. Women are often denied their rights and the resources available for men, while the poor's access to education failed to exploit the potential of young people.

Alcohol consumption, widely recognized problem among men in Papua, and the long-held traditional beliefs among the factors triggering domestic violence, UNICEF said Utari. "Alcohol has a lot to do with domestic violence. When people are under the influence of alcohol, they can not think clearly, and even engage in violence, including forced sexual intercourse."

Papua New Guinea (PNG), a neighboring country whose inhabitants have the same cultural identity and language as Papua, Indonesia, has also been grappling with gender-based violence. PNG Law Reform Commission noted that 70 percent of women in PNG said they had been physically abused by their husbands, and in some parts of the country amounted to 100 percent.

Response

In July 2013, the Province of Papua, Indonesia imposes regulations on domestic violence, organized with the assistance of UNICEF. Three districts - Jayapura, Keerom and Jayawijaya - piloting the implementation of the regulations, which has provisions for services for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, including treatment, counseling, rehabilitation and mediation.

"This regulation aims to protect and provide greater access to those who are weak, vulnerable and marginalized, which makes most of the people of Papua," said Reky Ambrauw, an assistant in the office of the provincial governor.

UNICEF, in collaboration with local governments in Papua to educate school children and communities by promoting healthy relationships, provide life skills education, and teach them about reproductive health and the dangers of alcohol, said Utari.

"There is a local saying that 'there is gold at the end of the rod whipping'," said Utari, which means that corporal punishment will result in better behavior. "There is also a perception that because the groom to bring money [dowry] for the bride and groom at a wedding, he has a wife."

ATP / pt /