Community Development Minister Delilah Gore

Community Development Minister Delilah Gore said the Office of Religion was established as the Government recognised that churches contribute a lot to the country’s development.

Gore said: “People respect churches more than the Government and church programs are more sustained.”

In 2012, the department was directed through the Alotau Accord to establish the Office.

Gore, when announcing the endorsement of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence 2016-2025, said streamlining ensures uniform roll out of strategic interventions.

She said this can lead to the prevention of GBV and support quality services for survivors of violence.

The strategy adopts a rights-based approach and takes into account all forms of violence committed on the basis of gender.

It aims to strengthen the work on GBV in order to achieve zero-tolerance towards GBV as per PNG Vision 2050.

Gore made the call during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday for the first sign language news interpreter, which will air on December 3 on NBC TV.

It is anticipated that the sign language can be utilised using all forms of media, with support from the government and donor partners.

Gore said the signing of the MoU is a simple demonstration of removing barriers of access to information and access to employment.

She said while this great achievement is celebrated, as a Government, they acknowledge that more is yet to be done.