Law review project signed

THE Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) can  now carry out legislative reform on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls.
The CLRC signed an agreement with UN Women yesterday to facilitate a K200,000 project on the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
UN Women Country representative Dr Jeffrey Buchanan said the UN had worked closely with the CLRC over the years. This relationship would make it better for women, girls, men and boys in PNG.
“It’s good that we are coming together to have these discussions and sign off on an important programme between the United Nations Women and the CLRC on this project called the CEDAW Legislative Review project.
“This is an important piece of work that the United Nations is doing with the CLRC in collaboration with the Department of Community Development because we are partners.
“We have made a lot of progress in policy and legislation – the Lukautim Pikinini Act, gender strategy and gender-based violence. Over the years, a lot has happened.
“It’s a proud moment for me representing the UN to bring to the table today what we hope to do with this important project.”
Department of Youth, Religion and Community Development secretary Anna Solomon said a lot had been done in the country in terms of dealing with families, women, children, boys, girls, people with disabilities and the elderly.
“I am happy that CLRC has taken on board this role because one of our main aims is to mainstream all gender and family issues. Let the relevant agencies take care of their area,” she said.
“We did our own review of what we wanted to see which will be a truly Papua New Guinean law which will help our families. That’s where CLRC took on board a lot of these reviews.”
Chairman of CLRC and Member for Kandrian Gloucester Joseph Leilang said it was a very important occasion because a lot of work had been put into it.
“I want to thank the secretary and the department for pushing on in trying to address many of the concerns and issues that confronted our population, particularly the gender issue relating to discrimination of women and girls.”
The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly. Described as an international bill of rights for women, it was instituted on September 3, 1981 and has been ratified by 189 states.