The National Capital District Commission in collaboration with Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry and UN Women announced the establishment of a Legal Help Desk to assist the survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the city.
Launched today to mark National Women’s Day, the initiative aims to build legal capacity and improve the quality of legal services available to GBV survivors.
This tangible step, championed by the Coalition of Parliamentarians, comes as a big relief to survivors who often struggle with lack of information and affordable access to legal services.
Co-chair of the coalition and NCD Governor Powes Parkop said: “GBV has been a big impediment for the development of 50% of our population. As part of an effective response strategy, we need to strengthen the referral systems and make it easier for survivors to access justice. Pro Bono Counsel by lawyers and law students will go a long way in demystifying the process of pursuing a GBV case.”
Timely and successful prosecution of perpetrators of GBV has been a challenge so far, he said, adding that this measure will fill in the vacuum.
“NCD GBV referral pathway has legal support services missing with women either representing themselves or deciding to drop their cases as court battles prolong,” he said.
The legal arm of the NCDC GBV Secretariat will be established in a month’s time, with POMCCI’s Rio Fiocco heading it.
Governor Parkop stressed the same arrangement will be replicated in other provinces represented by 20 members of the Parliamentary Coalition against GBV.
Dirk Wagener, Resident Representative for UNDP stated: “On behalf of UNDP, I offer my congratulations to both the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and NCDC for creating this important private-public partnership that will undoubtedly not only support more equal access to justice, but more importantly save lives and protect the wellbeing of gender-based violence survivors and their families.”
“GBV cases are skyrocketing in Papua New Guinea and around the world. There has never been a more important time to launch such a powerful justice and human rights initiative.”
As per the latest national-level data, a woman is beaten every 30 seconds in Papua New Guinea. Roughly, 1.4 million women and girls aged between 15 and 49 are impacted by violence every year.
81% of the perpetrators are husbands or former husbands. Close to $200 million is lost annually from missed work due to GBV related injuries.