REVIEW OF NEW GBV STRATEGY NEARS COMPLETION

THE Draft National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2035 was presented to the private sector and donor partners last Friday for their feedback.

This is part of the process to socialize and vet the new strategy before it goes to the National Executive Council for endorsement.

Secretary for the Department for Community Development and Religion, Mr Jerry Ubase, thanked NCD Governor and Chair of the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on GBV, Powes Parkop, for his continued leadership, and acknowledged all partners for their contributions to shaping the strategy.

“I will continue to support the GBV Secretariat to ensure the strategy is endorsed and implemented,” Mr Ubase said.

He added that one of his key priorities going forward is to establish a dedicated office for women in PNG.
Governor Parkop commended the progress made so far and highlighted that, despite ongoing efforts, the prevalence of GBV remains high.

“Women and girls are still not fully participating in our country’s development, and I believe this strategy can bring positive change over the next 50 years,” he said.

National GBV Secretariat Director, Diane Kambanei, said the new strategy aims to strengthen coordination across government agencies, civil society, development partners, the private sector, and communities.

The draft strategy was also presented to UN Heads and the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. The next presentation will be to government agencies.

Ms Kambanei noted that the current strategy ends in 2025 and the new one will be co-financed, 60% by the Government, 30% by donors, and 10% by the private sector.

Participants provided feedback and discussed ways to collaborate in supporting a whole-of-nation approach to tackling GBV.