Papua New Guinea - October 2023

Gender-based and sorcery violence is much more prevalent than has been previously believed in Papua New Guinea, according to the first report from the country’s Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE). GEWE’s report, presented to parliament on 5 October, said that incidents of physical violence were expected to exceed 100,000 within a few years, and that only four per cent of sexual violence cases since January 2021 resulted in an arrest. The report includes 71 policy recommendations, including gender quotas for elected office, increased funding to health services, and more.

Sources: Radio New Zealand, National Parliament of Papua New Guinea