Social policy reviewed

The National Task Force on Social Protection has completed a second draft of the social protection policy based on its findings from investigations in the country last year, principal researcher and consultant George Wrondimi says.
Wrondimi said the draft would be presented to the senior members of the relevant partners and stakeholders for their inputs during the consultative forum from Aug 1-5.
“The report will be finalised after this high-level stakeholders’ consultative forum for submission to the National Executive Council,” he said.
This will allow for preparations of the final report and development of the policy on social protection for Papua New Guinea.
The first policy draft was submitted for review and critique by a team of local and international experts last October.
Wrondimi, who is a lecturer on social work at the University of Papua New Guinea, said the establishment of a policy on social protection system in the country would enable the government to look at social protection programmes or interventions for households or individuals who were vulnerable or at risk of poverty.
The policy targets people living with disabilities, people with mental illnesses, vulnerable women and children or families with no means of income, people affected or infected by HIV/AIDS and those at risk of natural disasters.