Hello and welcome to our final episode in this special Women’s World Season highlighting Gender Based Violence prevention and response in Papua New Guinea.
Over the last episodes, we have explored different themes of GBV in PNG, like The Health Sector Response, Counselling & Care for Survivors of family and Sexual Violence, The Legal and Policy Environment in PNG, Men as Champions of Change, Economic Empowerment, Empowering Youth and Adolescents and many more.During this special season we have had an outstanding support from the Oil Search Foundation, and committed participation from stakeholders like the Health Department, the Family Sexual Violence Action Committee, the Family Sexual Health Unit, City Mission, Warrior Culture, Equal Playing Field, Coalition for Change and many more.
All in all, these stakeholders provide a dedicated network to support victims, and deliver Gender Based Violence prevention and response in PNG. In this last episode, we shall highlight again for you some of the current programs and services that are available for you.
We will also highlight the country’s first national strategy to prevent and respond to GBV. It’s a significant strategy that provides a roadmap to guide an inclusive government-led approach in implementing all legislation, policies and programs in PNG.
Gender Based Violence affects nearly two-thirds of all women across the country. It’s an important issue that needs to be continually discussed and explained in all households, and in every corner of society – especially about the different types of violence, the prevention and the response available.
Two years ago, Papua New Guinea didn’t have an official National Strategy to deal with the rise of GBV, however, today we do.
We take a look back at some of the appeals from different stakeholders in the past years who have been compelled to speak out about the need for a Strategy, and we share with you the positive news, stemming from the hard work of all stakeholders and financial support from DFAT, to finally achieve a national strategy.
In the last segment of this episode, we feature a presentation by the Deputy Secretary for the Department of Community Development and Religion, Jeane Sliviak, at a recent PNG Women’s Forum in the Highlands Region. The Deputy Secretary clearly explains the purpose of the National Strategy for GBV in PNG.
That concludes this episode, and this Special Season of Women’s World, highlighting Gender Based Violence prevention and response in Papua New Guinea.
We would like to remind you that there is counselling available via a hotline called 1-tok kauselin helpim lain, which is free. You can call 715 08 000.
You can watch the interrelated themes of Gender Based Violence which were covered in this season online at http://www.emtv.com.pg/category/programs/womens-world/ . The themes include the health sector response, legal and policy challenges, counselling and care for survivors, language and cultural beliefs and what men and women can do as champions for change.
