Outcome PNG_D_4.3

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 year, the focus of UN Women and its partners has been to identify the most appropriate network of women already functioning as peace mediators from which to select women for further training as mediators. 25 women mediators in Hela and SHP operating within the village courts have been identified to date. The total number of women serving as village courts magistrates and clerks is yet to be established. This approach has facilitated better engagements with the Law and Justice Sector teams in Tari and Mendi which have catalysed the need for a coordination platform for all women networks; provincial council of women, women village court officials, GPAT, women representatives from the churches. This coordination is expected to facilitate more cohesive actions and security in numbers for peace mediation during the 2022 elections where violence is expected to increase. Women groups are active in Mendi and Tari and have young women as members. However, there is yet to be a young women only and for young women’s needs network established. Efforts underway to address this include 1) Engaging Young Women’s Christian Association to train organizations with young women as members to develop leadership training programmes for young women.2) Working through the churches women’s groups, offer young women members to be trained in leadership and peace building processes and awareness raising.3) Assist to formalize organizations with young women members at IPA for them to be legitimate organization and coach them to effectively function as an organization. Melanesian Institute, UN Women’s implementing partner reached 100 women community mediators through various engagements

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.