The grade 9 class has been working on de facto marriages and blended families. We have talked about the problems that can arise. Three problems have been discussed:
INCEST: A men marries a woman. Then he marries her young two daughters. He has a mother and two daughters as wives. Is he breaking the law? He is certainly involved in a damaging relationship.
It depends on whether or not they are formally married in a church or custom relationship. It also depends on whether or not the daughters are/were under the age of consent.
PROPERTY: A man marries a woman in a church. They break up and he lives in a defacto relationship with another woman. He sets up a business and has a large house. The de facto relationship lasts for 12 years before he dies.
The first wife arrives with a policeman and gives the defacto widow a week to move out of her property as she is the lawful wife. She wins the Court case.
BLENDED RELATIONSHIPS: A man and a woman come together each with children. What problems can arise? The children of both sides may fight and argue. The wife or husband may discriminate against the children of the other. A man may sexually abuse a step daughter.
According to PNG law, step-parent or any person in authority over a child is committing an offence by sexually abusing the child. That applies to all persons including family members.
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