Department of Community Development Youth and Religion secretary Anna Solomon

The ‘National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence 2016-2025’ was endorsed by the National Executive Council on December 15 and will be launched in February 2017.

Secretary for Community Development, Anna Solomon, said the initial request for funding of the strategy is for K2.5 million to establish the Secretariat.

The strategy is a 10-year plan and the budget request for that period is about K112 million. 

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 Anna Solomon clarified that the strategy is a 10-year plan and the budget request for that period is about K112 million. 

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

It takes into account all forms of violence committed on the basis of gender.

Solomon explained that the budget is not a specific short term budget but a long term one.

Solomon encouraged all sectors, including the donor partners, non-government organisations and government institutions, to make child protection a top priority.

“We need to look at the next generation of young people and leaders, starting with our children, and the department is focused to take on the challenge.

“Through the Lukautim Pikinini Act, the government has called for a child protection office to be recognised on its own and not crowded under the department,” Solomon said.