Representatives from Papua New Guinea have joined over 1,000 participants at the 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters (5WCWS) in Sydney, Australia last month.
Director of the National Gender-Based Violence Secretariat Diane Kambanei said, “the conference was an extraordinary opportunity for the National GBV Secretariat and its partners to benchmark PNG’s GBV response against premier global standards.”
She said the event came at a pivotal time, as PNG government through its Medium-Term Development Plan IV and the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to GBV (2026–2035)—aims to have 80 registered and operational safe houses nationwide by 2027.
Kambanei emphasised that improving these systems is “vital to ensure dignity, protection, and equity for GBV survivors.”
Participation in the conference enabled PNG representatives to network with international counterparts, learn from leading models, and position PNG’s shelter services within a broader global movement.
PNG’s attendance was supported by the PNG Women Lead Program and the Australia–Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership (APLJ), reflecting Australia’s ongoing commitment to gender equality and its partnership with the Government of PNG to combat violence against women and girls.
The event was held from 15th–18th September, it brought together frontline practitioners, policymakers and advocates to exchange innovations, evidence-based practices and strategies for managing shelters and safe houses.
