Dept can amend orders: Sansan

By LULU MARK
THE Department of Personnel Management (DPM) can amend the general orders to include the disciplining of public servants committing gender-based violence (GBV), secretary Taies Sansan says.
The special parliamentary committee on GBV during the second public hearing yesterday wanted to know how the gender equity and social inclusion (Gesi) policy was being implemented by the public service to address violence against women.
Committee deputy chairman and East Sepik Governor Allan Bird said DPM was reviewing the general orders, hence, it should be recommended that the orders be amended to clarify that anyone who was guilty of committing GBV be terminated from the public service.
He said according to Department of Personnel Management, the departmental head contract required that they follow the Gesi policy and values so the general orders needed to be amended so that all public service contracts stated this policy.
“There must be zero tolerance for GBV in the public service,” he said.
Sansan said Gesi officer positions had been created in most public service agencies, with only 25 still yet to create the positions.
She said the Gesi officers would be responsible for addressing GBV within the public service.
Sansan said this showed the Government was serious about addressing the issue among its workers. She said last year, there were six GBV cases reported, and in 2020, there were five cases reported under the Gesi policy.
“Cases of family and sexual violence made up 12 per cent of those cases – most related to bullying or sexual harassment,” she said.
“DPM provides advice back to the agencies and some took action.