gender-based violence

The National Strategy to prevent and Respond to GBV 2016-2025 was officially launched by Minister for Religion, Youth and Community Development Delilah Gore on Friday, March 24 in Port Moresby.

The strategy aims to strengthen the work on GBV in order to achieve zero-tolerance towards GBV by 2025 and as per PNG Vision 2050.

Secretary for Community Development and Religion, Anna Solomon said the department will ensure all mechanisms and processes are established to coordinate quality implementation of this strategy.

The Moresby Betting Shop, in conjunction with the Rapopo Beach Resort and the Sanctuary Hotel, will be providing self-defense classes to interested groups of females.

Classes will integrate fitness and self-defense classes with the main aim of educating women on how to respond physically and mentally when they are confronted in times of danger. 

“Gender-based violence is a big issue in our society and is something that needs to be addressed collectively,” says Jamie Pang of the Moresby Betting Shop.

Parkop, who is a strong advocate for GBV, says PNG needs to work on behavioral change which is totally lacking.

He explained that behavioral change is the component where the perpetrators receive help to change.

 “We are only dealing with the survivors providing care, counseling, medical and legal aid however we also have to deal with the perpetrators.

“Dealing with the perpetrators and changing their behavior is the missing component which I hope the implementation plan will take on big time,” Parkop said.

The strategy aims to strengthen the work on GBV in order to achieve zero-tolerance towards GBV by 2025 and as per PNG Vision 2050.

The GBV Strategy was endorsed by the National Executive Council on December 15.

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion Delilah Gore said the strategy does not reinvent structures and processes.

The GBV strategy builds on existing interventions at national and sub-national level to secure government ownership and a stronger focus on coordination and monitoring for quality.

National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop called on men, during the recent gender-based violence protest, to change their behaviour and mentality towards women.

Parkop urged them to start appreciating women and see them as partners in the family, community and society.

“More importantly, see them as human beings having equal human rights and that women’s right is also their human right,” Parkop stated.

“We all created the problem of gender-based violence and contribute to it so we all must take action.”

UN Women country representative, Dr. Jeffery Buchanan, said this while commending the government for endorsing the PNG National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence (2015-2025) in Parliament on December 15th.

He said it was a milestone achievement in efforts to tackle GBV, which remains a pandemic in the country.

Dr Buchanan said having a national strategic action plan in place to address this atrocity to women and girls was another step in the right direction.

The National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence 2016-2025 was finally endorsed by the National Executive Council (NEC) on Wednesday, December 15.  

The endorsement was announcement by Minister for Religion, Youth and Community Development Delilah Gore to hundreds of women groups wearing orange coloured shirts at a peaceful protest.

The protest was organised by NCD Governor Powes Parkop and NCDC as a call for action for the Government to endorse the strategy.

The protest will be led by women and youth leaders in Port Moresby and is a call for action for the Government to endorse the National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Strategy 2016-25.

NCD police boss Ben Turi said police officers will be taking care of roadblocks and control the traffic from the Waigani traffic light to Boroko traffic light.

The event will take place along Waigani Drive and protestors will be stationed at the section of the road that will be blocked off.

In conjunction with the 16 Days of Activism against G-B-V, the World Health Organisation (WHO) came together with the Port Moresby General Hospital’s Family Support Centre (FSC) to show their support to end gender-based violence.

Staff of WHO took the time to stand together in solidarity with c PMGH FSC to add voices to those against violence with the message “Gender-based violence is not inevitable and can be tackled”.

Pacific Fashion Festival 2016 has been described as the spectacle of art, design and history translated into fashion and this year will bring 12 designers, 45 models and 84 looks.

It will be a “show not to be missed”, according to the organisers, who have notched it up higher, bringing the event to an exclusive venue, at The Edge, Stanley Place, South Brisbane.

Also, behind the PFF lies a higher purpose and vision.