A voice for the voiceless

BY ANCILLA WRAKUALE - Post Courier

Dealing with sorcery related violence in a place like Papua New Guinea is very challenging and risky and it’s not for the fainted hearts.

Sorcery is a dark space of its own in most places in PNG and not many people are brave enough to stand up to seek justice for the vulnerable and voiceless that continue to fall victims to sorcery accusation related violence (SARV). Sorcery related violence in PNG is a very complex issue because it doesn’t concern just an individual but a tribe and community as a whole.

Some weeks back leading to the Christmas period last year, I was privileged enough to chat with one of a strong advocate against sorcery related violence in PNG.

Let me introduce you to Ruth Julie Kissam. They say a strong woman stands up for herself but a stronger woman stands up for everyone else and that is exactly how I would describe Ruth’s courageous spirit.

Ruth, who turned 39 last November, likes to think that she is from Papua New Guinea and not just Enga where her parents originated from. She said the electoral and regional boundaries are just boundaries set up by people but this nation is an amazing mixture of cultures and people and she feels she’s every one of them.

They say a strong woman stands up for herself but a stronger woman stands up for everyone

She was born in Mt Hagen in Western Highlands Province and brought up mostly in rural areas especially in the Highlands region where her late dad was a dedicated pastor with the Assemblies of God (AOG) Church until his peaceful passing in 2018.

After completing her secondary education in Mt Hagen, Ruth was selected to study Law at the University of Papua New Guinea but just half way through her studies; she did a selfless thing by shelving her studies to take care of her three younger brothers after her mother became ill.
Ruth comes from a family of seven and she is the 4th born in the family. Her greatest inspiration in her work comes from her late father who has taught her all she needed about how to live and lead her life and most importantly helping others first.

Ruth is currently working as the Operations Director with Tribal Foundation- a not for profit organisation that works in the areas of education, gender based discrimination and violence and health.

Ruth was the lady that claimed the body of the late Leniata Kepari and buried her in Mt Hagen when no one else could after the body was in the morgue for several months in 2013.

She said she’s always been passionate about people and she believes that everyone deserves a fair chance in life and are special in their own ways.

She said her biggest inspiration in life comes from her late father. She said her father was her sole motivator and never discourages her from doing anything that she can. My dad always tells me that I am no different to my brothers and I can be anything I want. “I like the way he approaches things” she recalled the fond childhood memories, wearing a big smile on her face.

If there’s a conflict or trouble somewhere and I’m going out to assist, he wouldn’t stop me. Instead he would tell me to be careful on the road, ensure I have spare tyres and enough fuel for the trip.

The 39 year old said her only wish for women and girls in PNG is for them to have a safe place to walk around freely. “I hate the fact that I have to always look over my shoulder when going out and I don’t want to do that. “I wish for a place where our women and girls can just be themselves. I wish for a country where our girls can be themselves, fearless and see the world as their oyster”, she said.
In recognition of all her efforts in working in the dark space of sorcery related violence in PNG, Ruth was nominated for the Trukai Community Award for the 2017 Westpac Outstanding Women (WOW) award. Ruth’s nomination came out as the successful recipient of the Trukai Community Award. On the night of the Awards, Ruth was surprisingly named as the overall winner of the 2017 WOW awards.
“There were two things about that award that stood out for me. “The feeling was surreal…it was just unbelievable”, she recalled. It was unbelievable not because I won the overall WOW awards. It was unbelievable because for the first time corporate houses through the WOW awards actually recognised the work that we do in the dark space of sorcery. The win was not for me as Ruth Kissam. It was a win for all the human right defenders she said.

She also acknowledged Trukai Industries Ltd for sponsoring the category award of Community Awards where she was the final winner. Trukai Industries Ltd was one of the founding sponsors of this initiative initiated by Westpac since its inception 11 years in 2008 investing almost K400, 000 so far.

The company also donate K10, 000 on top of its normal sponsorship to the winner’s preferred charity of choice each year to help those charities and community based organisations progress the great work that they are already doing in the community.

Last year, Ruth received her K10, 000 donation from Trukai and she donated the money to three different NGOs to help them progress their respective goals and objectives in the areas of health and education.

She acknowledged Trukai Industries Ltd for the support including all other corporate sponsors for supporting this great platform where women are recognised for their efforts and commitment towards developing PNG in their various capacities in their own communities.

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