Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is on the rise in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and it is affecting mainly our women population. According to the PNG National Statistical Office demographic and health survey (2016–2018), 56 percent of women age 15 to 49 in Papua New Guinea have experienced physical violence since age of 15, and 28 percent have experienced sexual violence. Eighteen percent of women who have ever been pregnant have experienced violence during pregnancy.
The issue is crippling the role and participation of our women in the society and the economy. Women, through fear, are not participating with their full capacity. Therefore, human resource of PNG is lacking because women make half of the population. This issue also indicates that PNG’s implementation mechanisms on gender-related issues are weak and needs to be strengthened.