Take action on GBV: Parkop

National

IT is time for Government leaders to stop talking and take action in addressing gender inequality in our communities, an official says.
Chair of the coalition of Parliamentarians to end gender-based violence (GBV) and member of the Special Parliamentary Committee on GBV, Powes Parkop, said this during the 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women last week.
The virtual event brought together Government ministers, academics, community leaders and others to discuss ways to improve the lives of women and children around the region.
Governments from the Pacific will adopt a series of recommendations drawn from the conference at the 7th Meeting of Pacific Ministers for Women which was held yesterday.
“In terms of the development agenda, PNG takes gender issues seriously and concrete steps are taken to bridge the gender divide and, especially, address barriers that stop gender equality such as GBV,” Parkop said.
He said it was unfortunate ministers from PNG were not involved at the conference and would not be present at the regional ministers meeting.
“I am disappointed that PNG, at least at the Government level, did not have a meaningful or significant participation in the conference.”
Parkop, who is NCD Governor, applauded the commitment of Australia to support regional gender equality through the new Pacific Women Lead programme with AU$170 million (K463mil) over five years, but, said PNG also had to support the issue.
“PNG Government should understand that the international community is ready to help us,” he said.
“But, we must take the first step to show that we are serious, we want to take ownership and we want to do something substantial about gender issues, GBV in particular and women’s empowerment. Unless we do that, the international community will not support us.”