Port Moresby to part take in UN Women’s global programme

PORT Moresby is one of the five cities in the world selected for the United Nations Women’s “Safe Cities Free of Violence against Women and Girls Global” programme.
Michelle Alexander, the communications advisor for the Port Moresby Safe Cities programme said Port Moresby was selected with Quito in Ecuador, Kigali in Rwanda, Cairo in Egypt and New Delhi in India. 
“The goal of the global programme is to prevent and reduce sexual harassment and violence against women and girls in urban public spaces by enabling them to move freely and safely and increase their rights to use and enjoy public urban spaces,” she said.
“To achieve this, the Port Moresby programme focuses on markets as the key entry point for mobilising women’s leadership and citizens’ active participation in improving governance as well as fostering an understanding of citizens’ rights and responsibilities.”
Alexander said there were many Safe Cities programmes piloted around the world which attested that when cities were safe for women, they were safe for all.
Alexander said in PNG, the Safe Cities programme worked with the Government, local organisations, communities, women and men to reduce, prevent and ultimately eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. 
Some of the achievements of UN Women’s Safe Cities for Women and Girls programme include :
l    The establishment of a market vendors association;
l    a referral system for victims of family and sexual violence in the markets; and;
l    The adaptation of bylaws to incorporate considerations of gender and gender-based violence.

The UN Women’s Safe Cities Programme is being funded by Australia.