Special Parliamentary Committee on GBV

The second public hearings will be held on 3rd and 4th March 2022 at the Parliament’s State Function Room, in Waigani.

Committee Chairman, Charles Abel said the Committee will use the hearing to encourage Government Ministers and officials to remain focused on addressing GBV, even in the lead up to the June 2022 national general election. They will ask Ministries about how they have implemented the recommendations made by the Committee in their August 2021 Report.

In a strong message to the Government, the Committee said that proper funding be allocated during its budget session on 16^th of November 2021, for the National GBV Strategy in resourcing its activities across the country.

Chairman of the Committee, Charles Abel with fellow committee member Governor, Powes Parkop represented the committee and raised concerns relating to the rise in GBV cases and how the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the country has contributed to the increase of violence.

Using a recent media report of a dismissed alleged sexual offence case against a minor because of incomplete paperwork, the Committee called for more diligence by police and prosecutors.

Committee Chair Charles Abel said such cases call for police and prosecutors to ensure that proper procedures are followed and strong case files are developed.

Abel went on to state that society is sick of hearing stories of alleged perpetrators getting away with crimes against women and children due to small technicalities.

Chair of the Special Parliamentary Committee, Charles Abel together with NCD Governor, Powes Parkop and East Sepik Governor, Allan Bird hosted a meeting with development partners to discuss the Report on GBV tabled recently in Parliament, and to discuss next steps for making sure that Parliamentarians continue to advocate for gender equality and an end to gender-based violence.