A delegation from the PNG Public Service has been invited to the UN Headquarters in New York, to visit 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
The team will also present innovative approaches to addressing gender-based violence, during the dedicated side event “New partnerships for addressing and preventing GBV” on March 13.
The side event is organised by the Korean Republic, and UNDP.
Papua New Guinea is among two other countries – Guatemala and Argentina – whose work on gender based violence has been selected as an innovative intervention.
The examples of this work include, the new SMS-alert system for violence victims and the GBV service database system.
The new SMS-alert system will connect human rights defenders from the communities to Family Sexual Violence Action Committee Secretariats in the provinces. Through the free of charge SMS-system human rights defenders will be able to send requests for urgent assistance.
The secretariats will be available 24/7, and will be responsible for the provision of appropriate support victims.
The GBV service database will allow for the collecting of reported cases and help to identify existing bottlenecks, monitor the response rates and provide insights to the extent of support needed for further planning.
Both interventions are introduced by a joint initiative of the Government of Papua New Guinea and UNDP.
“The UN fully recognises the efforts of the Government of PNG in complying with the responsibility to protect and promote the rights of women and girls. The Government has a commitment to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment”, said Roy Trivedy, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative.
The delegation from Papua New Guinea will be headed by the Secretary of Department of Personnel Management, Mr John Kali, and include representatives of his department; and the Department of Community Development and Religion, Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee and UNDP in Papua New Guinea.
“The fact that PNG delegation was invited to present its work on gender equality demonstrates that the world is interested in hearing about the progress that is being achieved in Papua New Guinea. The delegation will also hear about the work that is going on in other countries to protect and promote gender equality”, Trivedy stated.
“We are looking forward to hearing about the delegation’s experiences on their return to Port Moresby and particularly about new ideas and solutions that can benefit the women of Papua New Guinea.”
As part of the week-long visit the delegation will also have bilateral meetings UN Special rapporteur on violence against women Ms Rashida Manjoo, representatives of the UNDP and UNWOMEN, Permanent mission of PNG to the UN and NGO working on preventing community-based violence in New York.
