Bougainville, Papua New Guinea — The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) in Papua New Guinea has reached an important milestone with the launch of two transformative policies, the Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment, Peace, and Security Policy 2023-2027 and the Civil Society Partnership Policy 2023-2027.

Supported by UN Women, the launch event held in Buka on 26 June 2024 was graced by distinguished guests and high-profile individuals, including ABG President Hon. Ishmael Toroama; Minister for Community Development Hon. Morris Opetti; Acting Speaker of ABG Parliament- Deputy Speaker Theresa Kaetavara; National Member for North Bougainville Hon. Francesca Semoso; UN Women Head of Office a.i., Papua New Guinea, Ms. Adekemi Ndieli, and Second Secretary Political, Australian High Commission, among many other esteemed ministers and dignitaries.

The Gender Equality, Women Empowerment, Peace, and Security Policy is a testament to ABG’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. It aims to dismantle the barriers that have historically hindered women’s full participation in society.

UN Women provided technical support for the review and development of the Gender Equality Policy, ensuring the policy reflects international best practices and standards for gender mainstreaming. This policy envisions a future where every woman and girl lives free from violence, pursues education, secures employment and participates fully in Bougainville’s political, economic and social life.

Among its content, the policy commits the ABG to establishing an Office of Gender Equality that will be situated in the Office of the Chief Secretary. “This change moves the responsibility for driving the gender equality agenda from the Department of Community Development to the highest offices of the government, demonstrating our commitment to improving the rights of Bougainvillean women and girls as a priority,” President Toroama states in the policy’s foreword.

In the same vein, the Civil Society Partnership Policy underscores the importance of collaboration with civil society organizations, acknowledging their pivotal role in advocating for social justice, human rights, and community development.

During the launch, ABG President Hon. Ishmael Toroama stated: “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.

Re-echoing his perspectives, Ms. Ndieli emphasized that the true measure of success lies not in the policies themselves, but in their implementation and their ability to drive tangible improvements in people’s lives. She urged everyone to continue championing equality, empowering women, and girls, and fostering a culture of peace and security.

Hon. Francesca Semoso, National Member of the PNG Parliament representing North Bougainville, also expressed her pride in the launch of the policy, highlighting the crucial link between gender equality, women empowerment, and sustainable peace. She emphasized that the policy would enable women to be better included in peacebuilding and decision-making processes at all levels, which are vital for achieving equality, development, and lasting peace and security in Bougainville.

ABG Minister for Community Development, Hon. Morris Opetti, reminded everyone that these policies are more than mere words on paper; they rather reflect the shared values and aspirations of the people of Bougainville. He called upon everyone to join hands and play their part in turning these policies into action, emphasizing that everyone’s contribution is vital in realizing a more equitable, inclusive, and peaceful Bougainville.

The speakers expressed their gratitude to all stakeholders, community leaders, and organizations involved in the development of these policies. UN Women provided technical support in reviewing and developing the policies for ABG in collaboration with the ABG Department for Community Development, with funding from the Australian Government.

UN Women’s project Women Make Change* underscores the importance of increasing women’s participation and leadership in politics at all levels. Despite global advancements, women continue to be underrepresented in politics, particularly at the subnational level. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), women encounter significant obstacles, including cultural norms, limited resources, and discrimination. Presently, only three out of 118 members of national parliament are women, and just 2 per cent of subnational ward members.

UN Women is dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in PNG. Recently, UN Women conducted the initiative Political Leadership and Campaign Strategies Training for women leaders across the country’s four regions. This initiative aims to enhance the capacity of women leaders at the subnational level who are planning to contest the upcoming election, enabling them to effectively participate in political processes and elections, some for the first time. The trainings were held simultaneously in Lae for the Momase region, Hagen for the Highlands region, and Port Moresby for the Niugini and Southern regions. A total of 121 women attended. Attendants were equipped with knowledge of political systems, campaign strategies, messaging, and communication strategies. The training also fostered networking and collaboration among participants.

“As the sitting ward member of Ward 8 in Kimbe Urban Local Level Government in West New Britain Province, I have gained invaluable skills and knowledge from this training,” said Paula Golpak, one of the participants of the Niugini Islands region training. “It has equipped us with concrete strategies and a deeper understanding of effective governance, further motivating us to plan and prepare thoroughly for the upcoming election and prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable."

One of the participants for the Momase training in Lae, Osore Baafe from Madang, said: “We are honoured and privileged to have attended this training. It has made us realize our potential to participate in the political leadership race. This training has equipped us with the necessary tools, skills, and resources to prepare ourselves for the election. This is also a stepping stone for those who want to participate in the 2027 national election.”

During the closing ceremony of the Southern region workshop, the national Minister for Community Development, Youth, and Religion Jason Peter encouraged the women leaders to be positive and excel in every aspect of life, including politics.

“Because of my mother, I came this far, and I value the contributions my mum made for me and my siblings,” Peter said. “Her story empowers me and continues to remind me to value women’s empowerment and gender equality principles. You know your background and how far you have come; even some of you are leaders in your own homes, so continue to be the best."

Australian Deputy High Commissioner Joanne Loundes stated: “The Australia and Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum recently reiterated the need to prioritize gender equality, further expand the gender and social inclusion partnership, and address family, sexual, and sorcery-related violence. We are working on our five-year investment programme, which will fund this particular programme for PNG Women Lead and also support the expansion of women’s leadership in Papua New Guinea.”

UN Women Head of Office Adekemi Ndieli said: “The initiative seeks to promote gender equality in political leadership and strengthen democratic processes by building a diverse and capable cadre of women leaders who can effectively advocate for their communities, implement policies that address local needs, and inspire future generations of women to engage in governance and public service.” The training is part of UN Women’s programme Women Make Change, implemented in collaboration with the Papuan government’s Department for Community Development, Youth, and Religion and with funding support from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

A project supported by UN Women is equipping women would-be political leaders with the skills, knowledge and connections to wage more effective election campaigns at national and local levels.