Men of honour awards judges announced

Caption:  Five of the seven independent judges (L) Travers Chue, Francesca Semoso, Michelle Hau’ofa, Eddie Aila, and Douveri Henao.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, October 12, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE first of its kind PNG ‘Men of Honour Awards’ for 2014 has announced its independent penal of judges chosen to select awardees for the inaugural event to be held in March 2015.

Organized under the banner of the Digicel PNG Foundation, the awards will aim to reward inspirational male citizens for their exemplary efforts in the community in addressing gender based violence.

The seven judges in Michelle Hau’ofa, Cassaundra Rangip, Travers Chue, John ToGuata, Eddie Aila, Douveri Henao, and Francesca Semoso, were chosen from key sectors within the community in cultural, business, law and justice, and community development background.

All will judge candidates under the awards categories of the Visionary, the Sporting Mentor, Community Entrepreneur, Community Leadership, and the overall 2014 Men of Honour.

The selected judges said that they were privileged to be a part of the new approach to addressing gender violence in the country through the empowerment of men.

Independent Judge and Executive Director of the Business Council of PNG Douveri Henao said that the cultures of the nation lacked the upfront attitude to address issue prior to confrontation or in the case violence abuse takes place.

“I want my daughter to live in this country without the fear that she may be exposed to violence, so it is important that we start to make a decision going forward,” Henao said.

“Real progression cannot be seen through the eye of GDP growth, but through human development and appreciated the foundation for this initiative and I am pleased to be a part of it.”

Well known advocator for women’s rights and former speaker for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Francesca Semoso, said that it will take a real man to say enough is enough.

“There are beautiful PNG men out there that can be real champions for the cause, and it all starts with a heart and mindset,” Semoso said.

“I believe the campaign will open up a lot of hearts and minds in the sense not to say that you are not a good man, but to say that there is a better way.”

When each were asked to give a word to describe their ideal men of honour, each judge described describe him to be a person of self-control, integrity, love, discipline, and religious.

Digicel Foundation CEO Beatrice Mahuru thanked all the judges for accepting the invitation to be a part of the awards, announcing also that the nomination period will be extended through to the new year with nominations closing on January 1, 2015.

“With a total of 107 nominations received so far, we anticipate that our target of 500 nominations will be exceeded,” Mahuru said.