Digicel to support Famli Seif project
- New helpline aims to counter domestic violence

Port Moresby, November 18 2008. Digicel, the fastest growing mobile network in the Pacific, is proud to participate in a new safety and crime prevention initiative being undertaken with Yumi Lukautim Mosbi Projek (YLM) and Protect Security.

The new Digicel-provided Famli Seif line aims to support police response and assist people in crisis, by providing a free rapid-reaction communications and transport service, available in Port Moresby, Lae, Rabaul, Madang, Mount Hagen and Goroka.

A call on the toll-free Digicel line 72221234 will be responded to by Protect Security in any of these regional centres. Protect Security will move as quickly as possible to transport the vulnerable caller to a safe location, and away from immediate danger.

Remember, "7222 brings Protect to you, 1234 opens the door" on family & sexual violence.

This latest initiative follows-up Digicel PNGs receipt of the Organizational Human Rights Defender of the Year award for 2008. This honour was based on Digicel’s bringing mobile services to the grassroots across PNG, and for Digicel’s provision of a toll-free HIV line to BAHA – the Business Coalition Against HIV and AIDS.

Digicel PNG CEO John Mangos said

"Digicel has brought affordable and quality mobile communications to PNG, and always puts the consumer first. As a measure of our commitment to being responsible corporate citizens of PNG, Digicel deploys mobile services to help people in need. We are proud to work alongside our partners in the Famli Seif project, and we hope that the line will prove an asset in overcoming domestic and sexual violence in PNG."

Digicel PNG uses mobile services to support grassroots communities through activities such as the street vendor programme, the Domestic Violence Toll Free Hotline 7200 8001 for abused women seeking support, the Susu Mamas Toll Free Hotline 7200 MAMA (7200 6262) providing young women and mothers with information about infant feeding and pregnancy, and the 72002242 HIV infoline provided to BAHA.

YLM Coordinator Mr. Rabura Aiga added

"This is a world-first initiative of Digicel and Protect Security. It amply demonstrates the massive impact that corporate partnerships can have on community by working together for the benefit of those most vulnerable in society. Such partnerships also shore up existing governmental responses and in so doing will provide invaluable information which will form the basis of future national support and appropriate funding to those organizations who respond to women & children in crisis. Thank you Digicel, you are saving lives."