Amnesty International
Otago University Club member Aakash Chhibber donned Pacific
Island women's dress yesterday to highlight a petition
calling for action to protect women in the Pacific Islands
from violence.
Mr Chhibber said reaction at the university union building
was mixed, with a few students not knowing what to make of
his unusual dress.
Club co-leader Kari Schmidt said many people assumed abuse
was "custom" in certain cultures, but it should not be
assumed Pacific women were content to live in a violent or
male-dominated culture.
The Pacific had horrific rates of violence and rape, and
women were often seen as property. In three hours, the
petition received more than 140 signatures.
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