National Women Summit underway

Women leaders from Faith-based organizations and community groups across Papua New Guinea have converged for a two-day (23rd-24th June) National Summit on women Peace and Security in Port Moresby.

The goal of the summit is to lay the groundwork for the country's historic and national action plan on women peace and security.

Organized by the Department of Community Development, Youth and Religion, alongside the Autonomous Bougainville government, the summit aims to put women at the center of national peace building.

The two-day summit aims to strengthen awareness, dialogue, and cooperation on women, peace, and security in Papua New Guinea.

Director of Office for the Development of Women, Nancy Kavop, says the two-day talks will tackle both longstanding and emerging security threats.

“From this summit, including the identification of emerging women, peace, and security priorities, mapping of existing initiatives and good practices, strengthened partnership, and the development of recommendations that will inform future actions.

“Most importantly, the summit outcome document will serve as a valuable tool to support the development of Papua New Guinea's first national action plan on women, peace, and security.” She said.

Speaking on behalf of the Civil Society National Reference group, Jacqui Joseph has warned that gender-based violence remains a crime too often overlooked and accepted in Papua New Guinea.

She stressed that violence against women and girls continues to threaten peace and security across the country.

“For too long, gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea has been treated merely as a social issue or private family matter to be hidden behind closed doors.

“Today, the sheer extent and brutality of this violence have transformed it into a critical national security crisis.” She said.

She called on the advocator's peace and security to be protected, ensuring their voices are not silenced by threats or neglect.

“We need direct, flexible funding that reaches the ward and the district levels, and we need robust safeguarding protocols that protect peace builders in the field.”