Safe women project starts

  THE United Nations Women Safe City project in Port Moresby aims to work with the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) to improve safety in city markets.

The project will work in collaboration with the commission, police and people to ensure city residents are able to use markets without fear of being attacked, robbed or harassed. 

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

The project focuses on making markets safer, particularly for women and girls who were constant victims of violence, including sexual harassment, physical and sexual assault.

Central to the success of the programme was the development of an effective community programme that aimed to reduce lawlessness in the markets through specific tactics targeted at increasing safety.

The programme recognises that the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary has a strong and important role to play in making public spaces safer for women and girls in Port Moresby. 

As part of the police response plan for the safe city programme, a referral system model was trialled at the Gordon and Gerehu markets. 

A memorandum of understanding for the provision of 150 NCDC reserve police was signed on May 14 at Ela Beach Hotel by NCD Governor PowesParkop and NCD-Central Commander Jim Andrews. 

Training started yesterday at the Institute of Public Administration.