‘Address GBV, honour legacy’

PARLIAMENTARIANS met on March 23 united to end gender-based violence (GBV) and to honour the nation’s founding father Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare’s legacy and vision on equal, just, unified and peaceful Papua New Guinea.
“As elected members of parliament, we commit to use our political platforms to promote women in leadership positions in our country, particularly parliament,” Parliamentary GBV committee co-chairman and National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop said at the meeting in Port Moresby.
“Women are leading change everywhere in our country.
“Why are they not in Parliament?”
Parkop said women leaders in Parliament would bring PNG together to address the ongoing scourge of violence against girls and women.
“Violence has continued to hurt us all,” he said.
“We commit to stand beside our sisters, to make room for them at the table of national governance and to play our role in voicing their needs in a parliament that is currently void of their presence.”
Co-chairman and East Sepik Governor Allan Bird said: “As the 2022 elections near, we commit to work with our brother MPs to balance our next Parliament with the equal inclusion of women’s voices.
“I call on all PNG citizens to honour Sir Michael by continuing his legacy and achieving his dream of equality, one people, one nation, united under God.”
Committee chairman and Alotau MP Charles Abel said: “As a first step, we need reserved seats for women immediately.”