Outcome PNG_D_1.1

By 2028, women and girls in Papua New Guinea, especially the most marginalized and vulnerable, exercise their rights and agency and live a life free from all forms of discrimination and violence.

The government has reviewed and launched gender-sensitive policies and frameworks to combat violence against women and girls. Communities, especially women and girls, have increased their knowledge, skills, and understanding of leadership, conflict resolution, and gender equality. Specifi achievements are as follows Bougainville Gender Equality, Women Empowerment, Peace, and Security Policy 2023-2027 and the Civil Society Partnership Policy 2023-2027 Launch On June 26, 2024, the Bougainville Government successfully reviewed and launched the Gender Equality, Women Empowerment, Peace, and Security Policy, along with the Civil Society Partnership Policy. This demonstrates the government's commitment to integrating gender considerations into all aspects of governance. The Bougainville Government leveraged on UN Women normative expertise to review, develop and launch two policies Gender Equality, Women Empowerment, Peace, and Security Policy 2023-2027 and the Civil Society Partnership Policy 2023-2027 aligning them with the international gender equality frameworks and commitments. The policies incorporated principles of inclusivity and equality into governance frameworks and promoting women’s empowerment as well as participation in decision-making processes. A total of 104 stakeholders (40 men and 64 women), including the Bougainville Government President, Ministers, UN Women, donor partners, CSOs, women leaders, and youths attended the launch of the policies. The Bougainville President, Hon. Ishmael Toroama, during the launch of the two policies stated in his keynote address that “as Bougainville prepares for independence, all faculties must stand ready to complement the government’s political will.” He expressed his pride in launching the Bougainville Gender Equality, Women Empowerment, Peace, and Security Policy, which he highlighted would address disparities in access to education and employment opportunities, ensuring that both women and men can fully participate in and benefit from society. Papua New Guinea Government validated the National Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE) Policy (2025–2035) The Papua New Guinea government reignited the review of the outdated National Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy (2011–2015). With support from UN Women, the Department for Community Development and Religion (DfCDR) successfully reviewed and validated the National GEWE Policy (2025–2035). Representatives from 14 key government agencies and departments participated in validation workshops. Empowerment of Women Leaders: During the reporting period, 122 prospective women leaders from local level governments (LLGs) enhanced their leadership capabilities through focused training on message development, campaigning, resource mobilization, and voter engagement. This training equipped them to actively participate in the upcoming LLG elections. Establishment of Panguna Women in Mining Association: Women leaders from the mining town of Panguna significantly strengthened their leadership skills and knowledge in conflict resolution. They successfully formed the Panguna Women in Mining Association, which plays a pivotal role in engaging with mining authorities, promoting gender inclusiveness, and ensuring that women have a voice in key decision-making processes related to the mining sector. Support for Marginalized and Vulnerable Groups: Resource Mobilization: UN Women mobilized 10.3 million euros for the Soim Wokabout project. This project supports women and girls in Papua New Guinea through the GBV service referral pathway, civil society organizations platforms, and prevention efforts targeting social-cultural norms change toward eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence. Strengthened UN Coordination on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment In line with its coordination mandate, UN Women Papua New Guineaexpanded the coordinating role within the UN Country Team to ensure that Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment is mainstreamed within the UNCT in PNG. In this respect, UN Women PNG has been promoting a number of UN joint advocacy initiatives and joint programmes to address gender equality and empowerment of women.

By 2028, women and girls in Papua New Guinea, especially the most marginalized and vulnerable, exercise their rights and agency and live a life free from all forms of discrimination and violence.

During the reporting period, Papua New Guinea demonstrated strong commitment to ending violence against women and girls by strengthening institutional capacity and policy frameworks to prevent and respond to violence, enabling women to live a life free from harm. The GEWE Policy 2025–2035 was revised, validated, and endorsed by the National Executive Council (NEC) and will be launched in 2026 during International Women’s Day. This policy aims to ensure that women and girls live free from all forms of discrimination and violence. Discussions are also underway to create a Ministry for Women, further demonstrating increased institutional commitment. Papua New Guinea government and CSO representatives ensured compliance with international reporting obligations and adopted global innovations on preventing and responding to violence against women. This progress was supported by enhanced knowledge of global best practices—including survivor-centred approaches and shelter management—gained through participation in international forums such as CSW69, CEDAW sessions, and the World Conference on Women’s Shelters. These engagements contributed to innovative prevention strategies, including the development of the Men and Boys Engagement Framework and the establishment of engagement platforms to mobilize men and boys as allies for systemic change and shifts in cultural norms. National GEWE machinery was also strengthened through the revitalization of the National Council of Women (NCW), restoring its leadership role in advocating for women’s rights, EVAWG, and gender equality across provinces. In 2025, strong advocacy efforts ensured implementation of GEWE policies and improved accountability among decision-makers. For the first time, International Women’s Day was commemorated in the PNG National Parliament with full attendance by Members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister. Deliberations focused on VAWG, low women’s representation in leadership, and limited participation in decision-making, resulting in commitments to do better. The Prime Minister publicly apologized to women for past failings and pledged to increase engagement with women in constituencies and ensure their safety. In a symbolic milestone, the Deputy Speaker—who is a woman—presided over the debates, signalling meaningful progress toward gender equality in governance. A high-profile 16 Days of Activism campaign was launched in Mount Hagen and the National Capital District, with strong government and donor participation. A joint press conference with government and development partners emphasised legal enforcement, digital safety, and the need for survivor-centred services. Women and girls in Papua New Guinea are increasingly participating in leadership, political, and decision-making processes, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society free from violence and discrimination. During the reporting period, 142 participants (90 women leaders and 52 young women) gained knowledge and advocacy skills through community dialogues, leadership training, and political participation activities focused on the 2025 Local Level Government (LLG) elections and the 2027 general elections. The training enabled them to advocate for gender equality and community change. As a result, six women won LLG elections in Eastern Highlands Province.