Safe city initiative starts with training

 THE safe city initiative for women and girls in the National Capital District begins this morning with the opening of a training programme at the Papua New Guinea Institute of Public Administration.

The programme is a joint initiative of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC), the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) and UN Women.

The United Nations office in PNG said in a statement that the UN Women safe city project in Port Moresby “aims to support a transformation in the relationship between NCDC, police and citizens of the city who should be able to use the city markets without fear of being attacked, robbed or harassed”. 

The UN said the goal of the project was to create a safe city through the reduction of violence against women and girls and empowerment of women in market places. 

“This week-long training will focus on core operational and administrative practices, improved urban safety, reducing family and sexual violence and improving police services to the community,” it said.

“UN Women, NCDC and police are conducting training this week in order to develop and instil their shared vision to prevent crime and disorder and to make Port Moresby safer for its citizens.”

The UN said central to the success of the programme was the development of an effective community and problem-oriented policing programme that aimed to reduce lawlessness in the markets through specific tactics targeted at increasing safety. 

“The programme recognises that the RPNGC has a strong and important role to play in making public spaces safer for women and girls in Port Moresby, free of gender-based violence,” it said.

“A proactive police response in the market place, where large populations of Port Moresby go about their daily lives, will assist the RPNGC to maintain public safety and implement their strategies for addressing urban safety and family sexual violence in partnership.

“This will be achieved through enhanced police visibility in the market place, redistribution of patrol deployment, establishment of community partnerships, police-led service referral mechanisms to service providers responding to violence against women and girls, and strengthening of public/media relations.

The UN said the police model was designed in consultation with NCD police.

“It is based on supporting the key strategies of the RPNGC through its corporate plan and on strengthening current systems,” the UN said.