Fun Fast Facts:
Updated: 26 Aug 2014 (Let’s talk about sex)
- The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, previously known as the North Solomon Islands, is an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea with a population of approximately 250,000.
- Male same-sex sexual activity is prohibited by Section 210 of the Papua New Guinea Penal Code.
- Those caught engaging in anal sex can get punished with up to fourteen years imprisonment. Other same-sex sexual acts can be punished with up to three years imprisonment. There are few if any reported cases of prosecutions however many reports of discrimination in daily lives of LGBT people.
- In August 2000, it was revealed that members of the Australian Defence Force stationed in Bougainville staged and filmed a mock Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to celebrate the end of their deployment. It generated international media exposure, was criticised for homophobia and caused embarrassment to the Australian Defence Force.
Let’s talk about sex
Broadcast: 26 Aug 2014
LGBTIQ-friendly organisation: CARE Australia
- CARE Australia has worked in Papua New Guinea since 1989, implementing aid programs and responding to emergencies. They work to support remote and disadvantaged communities with:
- water, sanitation and hygiene
- education
- agriculture and natural resource management
- maternal health care
- HIV/AIDS prevention and care
- disaster risk reduction
- community development
W3JOY interviewed: Blossom Gilmour of CARE Australia
“Our focus in Bougainville is on youth in particular because there is a very high percentage of the population is considered ‘youth’ and they are considered to be the lost generation – the generation which really suffered from the lack of education and health services during the Bougainville crisis.”
“Men are having quite a few sexual partners over a short time period which of course increases their risk of contracting any of the STIs.”
“While Bougainville is a traditional culture and there are some barriers to speaking openly about sex, we do a lot of work with community leaders in trying to raise their awareness of the risk associated with some of the behaviours that the youth are engaging in. Generally once the leaders understand what is going on, they’re quite supportive of us trying to work with youth.”
“It (sex work) is very much at an informal, transactional level. Someone will trade sex for a trip on the bus or school fees for her children. But if you asked if she identified as a sex worker, the answer would be ‘no’. And the same goes for men who have sex with men.”
“Part of the reason we work with youth is that youth are a bit more open to talking about things. We really encourage them to be much more clinical about it. We try and talk about things in terms of biology and in terms of relationships and negotiations and try and use language that is acceptable to the group we are working with.”