City Sivarai

The Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) will convene a two-day inquiry from 25–26 March 2025 at Parliament Haus, Port Moresby.

The inquiry will assess progress made since the 2023 National Inquiry on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and evaluate the Government’s commitment to policies and resources aimed at empowering women and ensuring their safety.

The Committee, chaired by Hon. Powes Parkop, Governor of the National Capital District, will use its mandate to hold Government officials accountable for the implementation of national and sectoral strategies addressing GBV and sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV), as well as broader gender equality commitments.

Hon. Parkop emphasized the Committee’s role in driving meaningful change:

"Our Committee is committed to ensuring the Government delivers on its promises to women and girls in Papua New Guinea. We will scrutinize the national response to GBV, examine gaps in policy and resources, and hold officials accountable for their obligations to promote gender equality."

The 2025 inquiry will feature updates from key Government agencies, including the Department for Community Development and Religion, the Department of Justice and Attorney General, the Department of National Planning, and the Department of Treasury.

Representatives from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC), the Health Sector, and the Judiciary will also provide reports on their roles in addressing GBV.

Additionally, civil society organizations, frontline service providers, and provincial administrations will present impact reports on the effectiveness of GBV response mechanisms at the local level.

The Committee encourages public engagement and will provide updates through its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PNGParlCommGBV.

For media inquiries, please contact: communications.png@undp.org

Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment