International Women’s Day

Over 40 of them received free health checks and essential hygiene and sanitary kits from City Pharmacy Limited (CPL).

CPL staff visited the incarcerated women on March 8. Three infants and female wardens were gifted hygiene kits as well.

This initiative is in line with CPL's ongoing mission to recognize and support the marginalized, and ensure that all women and girls have access to fundamental health and hygiene resources.

Data from across the country shows that women and girls still face enormous challenges, including the high risk that they will be a victim of sexual or physical violence in their lifetimes, that they may die while trying to give birth and often cannot access necessary health services, and that they still have difficult accessing a proper education or finding a job that pays enough.

The IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme seeks to get the world talking about why “equal opportunities are no longer enough” – and can in fact be exclusionary, rather than inclusive.

For Business Coalition for Women executive director, Evonne Kennedy, International Women’s Day is an important date set aside to recongnise the important roles women play in society, and the potential they have.

“There are women in leadership roles but there could be more,” she said.

In attendance was a vast majority of women of various skills, experience and intellect from reputable individuals and companies in NCD. The Australian High Commission, Brian Bell Group of Companies and Bank South Pacific supports the event.

BPW exists to empower women and girls through scholarship and other women's economic empowerment programs as part of its drive and purpose, and through the Office of NCD Governor, NCDC was a gold sponsor of the day.

UNFPA Asia-Pacific regional director, Bjorn Andersson, said: “As the world continues to battle and recover from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and governments look to institute policies to build back better and greener, we are at the same time affected by another global crisis – climate change – and the impact it has on women’s health, rights and equality.”

In his message to mark International Women’s Day today, Grand Chief Sir Bob reflected on the often difficult journey women in PNG have had to endure in order to achieve success personally and professionally.

He noted that in order for women’s advancement to be realized in our society, both men and women must work together.

Papua New Guinea is often cited as being one of the most dangerous countries in the world for women and girls and challenges that surround gender equality and protection are numerous and will take years to fully solve.

In Port Moresby efforts are continuing to be made to advocate for the rights and protection of women.

 It was with this purpose that the Active City Development program hosted a walk under the 2022, theme: ‘Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow’, which took place on Sunday 06^th March, 2022.

Sport is one of the most powerful platforms for promoting gender equality and in empowering women and girls.

Since 2016 - 2020 there has been a 60% female representation on the PNGOC Board. As of 2020 that number is currently on 40%. Within the organisation itself, 60% of employed staff comprise of women headed by the Secretary General Mrs Auvita Rapilla, who is also PNG and the Pacific's first female International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member and sits on four IOC Commissions. 

They are among thousands of teachers driving and participating in a program to improve education outcomes for girls and boys.

International Women’s Day is an opportune time to celebrate the achievements of women teachers who are advocating for change and greater equality for their students.

Since 2018, the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership has supported the Rapidly Improving Standards in Elementary Education project (RISE), which has trained more than 2,500 teachers and is benefiting over 100,000 girls and boys across the country.

Chief Executive Officer Paul Sayer said the occasion provided the opportunity to reflect on the achievements and contributions of women who continue to positively impact and grow the Fund for members in Papua New Guinea.

“A significant finding of ours has been that our female members are excellent savers – on average they have higher balances than their male counterparts.”