by Theckla Gunga – EM TV, Port Moresby
Gordons Market in the National Capital District was selected by UN Women, through its Safe Cities project to transform the market into a safer place.
This follows numerous criticisms from business houses and the general public on the increase in crime at Gordons Market.
The project, known as Safe Cities was first tested at Gerehu Market and has proven successful. Through the project, vendors at Gerehu have opened their personal bank accounts to save the profits they earn.
The Safe Cities project is an initiative of UN Women, a subsidy of the United Nations. The project is dedicated to addressing issues affecting women and girls in the Asia-Pacific Region and is used a vehicle to drive out issues of discrimination and violence against women and girls in local communities.
Gerehu Market in Port Moresby’s North West was the first market in the Asia-Pacific selected to undergo the Safe Cities project.
After one year into the program, market vendors are saying it has already proven successful. Through this program, Gerehu Market Senior Coordinator, Mato Posu said mothers in Gerehu and Rainbow areas now feel safe to do marketing at Gerehu and are no longer intimidated by crime offenders.
She said the market is much cleaner than what it used to be and the sale and chewing of betelnut is discouraged within market premises.
UN Women will be looking at Gordons Market to roll out their Safe Cities project soon and it aims to do this in partnership with the police.
