“For ourselves, for our country”: CSO Forum Unites Advocates Across Papua New Guinea to Advance Human Rights

From APEC Haus in Port Moresby, representatives from Community Development Agency, Touching the Untouchables, and Eastern Highlands Family Voice shared with civil society organisations (CSOs) around the nation how they work to ensure no one in Papua New Guinea is left behind on human rights.

Through radio programs broadcast to remote parts of Eastern Highlands, activities bridging traditional community structures with formal human rights mechanisms in Simbu, and outreach delivering health information to 3,000 people in Western Province, these representatives demonstrated the important role of grassroots organisations. 

But to succeed and grow, these local experts need to work in partnership with service providers and government.

Concluding the 20 Days of Human Rights Activism and in celebration of Human Rights Day 2021, UN Women and CIMC co-hosted this national forum to strengthen cooperation between CSOs, development partners, and government. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of gender-based violence was exacerbated by reduced services and travel restrictions. Strong partnerships have been essential for combating this shadow pandemic, but guests and speakers at this key event noted that significant gaps need to bridged.

“There needs to be dialogue between the State and CSOs,” said Magna Carta’s Shirley Kaupa in the opening panel of the event. “We need to create the dialogue we promote it from the national to the sub-national and to the LLG. And we must do it for ourselves, for our country.”

“Change is inevitable”

The panellists in Port Moresby were joined by CSO representatives and human rights advocates in Lae, Goroka, Mt Hagen and Kokopo. Human Rights Defender Mary Kini delivered to Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion, Hon. Wake Goi, the forum’s Call to Action on behalf of the many representatives assembled. The Call to Actions highlighted the need for action on gender-based violence.

UN Women Country Representative Themba Kalua highlighted that events like this must focus on providing tangible outcomes for women and girls experiencing, or at risk of, violence.  “Often times we are preaching to ourselves and this is one reason why we don’t see progress,” he said. “It is important to bring other stakeholders into the conversation. We need to make sure that whatever we discuss, we also implement.”

“We know that CSOs work in unimaginable and challenging contexts across the country to reach the unreachable,” said Henry Yamo, Deputy Executive Officer of CIMC. “Let’s invest in the civil society space and have true and meaningful engagement with our civil society organisations.”

The CSO Forum on Gender Equality and Human Rights was hosted by UN Women and CIMC with support from the EU-funded Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women and girls. The Initiative will mark two years of operation in Papua New Guinea on International Women’s Day 2022.