Human Rights

Families have set up makeshift houses in the gaping pit, and men, women and children pass their days digging for whatever gold and copper they can reach.

It's risky and dangerous work, but many feel they have no other option.

They live among decaying infrastructure and the skeleton of the mine's concentrator, left over from the massive operation run by Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) between 1972 and 1989.

While they protect others, who, in turn, protects them?

The Momase regional consultation is hosted in Lae from March 1^st-2^nd to gauge stakeholders’ views on the ‘zero draft’ National Human Rights Defenders Protection Policy 2023-2027.

“I came here because we need to coordinate work on human rights,” the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Stanley Raka, told participants at the Lae International Hotel.

Vanimo Green MP and Chairman of the Permanent Parliamentary Committee of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence, Belden Namah made the call.

Namah made this call after Indonesian Government allegedly mistreated Enembe recently in Jakarta.

Namah said Enembe has been outspoken on racial issues in recent times in West Papua especially concerning the Javanese race. He has been under constant watch by the Indonesian authorities.

The woman went to the station to report a sexual offense but was clearly in need of medical care. Thanks to Sister Therese’s prompt action, the mother received the care she needed and gave birth to a healthy baby.

Sister Therese has advocated for greater human rights over many years, including providing accommodation for women and youths awaiting court hearings and acting as a back-up for the Buin safe house, a secure place for women and girls fleeing violent situations. Thus this was nothing new.

The two women are members of the Buka-based Hako Women’s Collective that operates a safe house and works closely with other local services, such as the Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation.

“We deal with married women and young girls, who we give counselling to and connect to the Bougainville Police Service, the courts and the hospital and monitor their progress,” Ms Pena said.

Ms Omi said both she and Ms Pena take their role very seriously.

Governor Powes Parkop (Chairman), Governor Allan Bird (Deputy Chairman) and Committee members Marsh Narewec, Ricky Morris and Lohia Boe Samuel took their oath of office on November 30 2022. 
They all committed to use their mandate to progress women’s empowerment and to continue previous efforts to tackle gender-based violence.   

For Kiak Guande and Moses Tekei, both currently undergoing Australia Awards Graduate Certificate in Disability Inclusion short course, being inclusive is of paramount importance at their institutions.

Guande is a midwife by profession, working as a clinical supervisor with Lutheran School of Nursing in Madang, assessing and supervising midwifery students during clinical placements.

She explains that the job their graduates will do requires the gap in disability inclusion at institutions be addressed.

The call was made during a recent one-day forum on Gender Equality and Human rights.

The event was organized in observance of International Human Rights Day by UN Women and the Consultative and Implementation Monitoring Council (CIMC), with funding from the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative.

This was presented to the Minister for Community Development and Religion, Wake Goi during a forum held this week.

Over 100 representatives from various CSOs participated in a one-day forum on Gender Equality and Human rights that was organized in observance of International Human Rights Day by UN Women and CIMC with funding from the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions on holding large gatherings, the main event was held in Port Moresby, with satellite events in Lae, Goroka, Mount Hagen and Kokopo.

The 20 days of HR Activism officially starts with the International Children’s Day which falls on the 20^th November and ends with the International Human Rights Day on 10^th December.  According to the Master of ceremony, Deputy Secretary Warren Marape, this is the first time, the Department for Community Development and Religion is given the task to take lead in the launching of this event.