Region:Asia PacificCurrent UN Women Plan Period Afghanisthan:2018-2022
World Bank Income Classification:Low IncomeThe World Bank classifies economies for analytical purposes into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high income. For this purpose it uses gross national income (GNI) per capita data in U.S. dollars, converted from local currency using the World Bank Atlas method, which is applied to smooth exchange rate fluctuations.Least Developed Country:YesSince 1971, the United Nations has recognized LDCs as a category of States that are deemed highly disadvantaged in their development process, for structural, historical and also geographical reasons. Three criteria are used: per capita income, human assets, and economic vulnerability.Gender Inequality Index:0.575GII is a composite metric of gender inequality using three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. A low GII value indicates low inequality between women and men, and vice-versa.Gender Development Index:0.723GDI measures gender inequalities in achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and command over economic resources.
Population:209,497,025Source of population data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects: The 2022 RevisionMale:19,976,265 (9.5%)Female:189,520,760 (90.5%)
SN Outcome 2.3: Government departments have capacity to design and deliver safe and universally accessible public spaces (aligned to SP Output 12)
UN Women noted improved capacity at provincial and district levels in designing gender sensitive public policies on the management of markets. This was achieved through working with 9 provincial/district governments (National Capital District, Lae City, Mt Hagen, Goroka, Hela, Daru, Wewak, Vanimo, Alotau) to ensure safe market places including areas around the market such as bus stops. While progress varies across the different locations, during the consultations for the revision of the Informal Economy Policy, provincial government teams demonstrated awareness on the role of different departments in providing accessible and quality public services. For example, in Morobe, the Lae City Authority was working with provate sector to put cameras in public places as a way of curbing violence against women and girls. The Informal Economy Policy revision shows government commitment in the design and delivery of safe and accessible public spaces.
SN Outcome 2.4 Violence Against Women and girls is prevented and quality essential services are available and accessible to survivors (Aligned to SP Output 11)
During the reporting period, there was increased action against violence against women and girls through renewed commitment among community leaders including church, local and youth leaders, within UN Women project sites, to prevent VAWG as well as increased access to gender based violence services. UN Women in partnership with 32 partners 18 spotlight hub and 14 WPHF funded partners conducted awareness raising sessions on EVAW, respond to survivors of violence. The interventions increased community knowledge and understanding on the continuum of violence, the referral pathway and growing condemnation of violence at national, provincial, district and community level. Community leaders supported the establishment of community referral pathways, which gave survivors more accessible options for freely reporting cases of violence pepetrated against them. Male and youth champions and volunteers acted as watchdogs of violence in their communities, and also supporting survivors with knowlegde on reporting. Survivors of violence reported feeling more confident to report violence against them or their family members. UN Women continued its support to safe houses in National Capital District, Morobe, Enga, ENB, Eastern Highlands, Simbu, Jiwaka provinces wherein a total of 835 GBV survivors accessed safe shelter, food, sanitary items, repatriation and case management services. A total of 5,400 persons (F-3445, G-707, B-329, M-913, FLWD-6) facing multiple and intersceting forms of violence benefitted from counselling services either directly (face-face) through CSO partners or the 1-Tok Kaunselin Helpline offered by partner ChildFund PNG.
SN Outcome 3.2: Women and youth are more resilient and promote peace (aligned to SP Output 13)
During the reporting period UN Women through the Creating Condition for Peace in Hela and Southern Highlands and Sustainable, empowered women and youth with knowledge and skills on conflict resolution, peacebuilding and prevention of violence against women and girls. Women and youth developed confidence, survival skills to tacle conflict related violence and recover from conflict. UN Women engaged women and youth around 10 Learning Empowerment Programmes 5 Hela province and 5 Southern Highlands Province.Lyn, a former UN Women LEP Coordinator in Hoeibia stood out as a champion for peace when she visited 2 (Maragima and Hiri) mediate the conflict and rescued the women and children, bringing them to a safer place. In Bougainville, UN Women ensured that both the population in and out of Bougainville were informed and feel included in the process. At the community level, more women were given the opportunity to lead in various capacities. Merceline Kokiai, found peace after attending peace building trainings says “The peace building training has done a lot of changes within me. The way I see things, the way I approach issues, and the way I talk and interact with people changed. I used to be violent. I became more violent after seeing my brother being shot to death during the war in Bougainville. I swore to revenge on everyone who was involved. For many years, this did not take me anywhere. It only made me more bitter. When I attended the peace building training, I learnt to forgive, I started seeing things differently and reconciling with others. I found peace and moved on.” Merceline is one of the women peacebuilders in Bougainville.
Outcome 4.3 3 Women and girls in the highlands region in PNG affected by crisis, lead, participate in, and benefit from response and recovery, inclusive peace-building to reduce conflict and improve development (GYPI Highlands project goal)”
During the reporting period UN Women enhanced Highlands region women's confidence, knowledge, understanding and participation in community mediation roles, peacebuilding initiatives. UN Women in partnership with Melanesian Institute trained 101 female participants from Southern Highlands Province (4 Learning Empowermen Programme (LEP) Centres-Kumin, Pimaga,Pombreal, and Semin) and 130 participants (inclusive of 5 male facilitators) from Hela province (Grassroots Peacebuilding Action Team (GPAT) and 5 LEP Centers - Koroba, Pureni, Komo, Walete, Hoiebia) (Women Leaders, Councillors, female Magistrates, Church women leaders, Community Leaders, Peace Volunteers and emerging young women leaders). The trained women leaders initiated their rapid response mechanism through networking with other organizations (including Eastern Highlands Family Voice, Kafe Urban Settlers Women Association KUSWA), Voice for Change, Kirapim Sauten Hailands Association and Stretim Ples Foundation Inc). The women conducted awareness raising sessions on peacebuilding, conflict resolutions in Highlands province.
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