Brisbane youth working towards a safer PNG

 

Meri Toksave is a youth led charity that promotes initiatives to combat gender based violence in Papua New Guinea. 

Founded in 2013 by Brisbane students Ayesha Lutschini, Courtney Price and Tasman Bain, the charity aims to address violence against women in PNG through improving access to information regarding rights, services and support for survivors of gender-based violence. 

 

Mr Bain is the current Deputy Director of Meri Toksave and he spoke about the charity's work to date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After completing their Service Directory, Meri Toksave partnered with a range of organisations on a grassroots awareness campaign on the first anniversary of the Family Protection Act, which was passed in September 2013, criminalising spousal rape and broadening the definition of domestic violence.

 

"For our second project we made flyers and posters to break down the stigma and the ignorance surrounding what rights women do have, what constitutes sexual assualt and what constitutes a crime under the new Act," said Mr Bain. 

 

Now Meri Toksave are busy hosting local events, distributing more copies of their Directory and focusing on new projects bringing the unique perspective of youth into their work.

 

"Into the future we're looking at doing a range of projects - there's potential for partnering with the National Development Bank of Papua New Guinea to develop a small business incubator for survivors of gender based violence.

 

"We're also looking into providing access to legal assistance, making a mobile clinic staffed by law students at the University of Papua New Guinea so women can go to get free advice, said Mr Bain."