Meri Safe Bus Launch

[Press Release]

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – Ginigoada Bisnis Development Foundation (Ginigoada) and UN Women launched the second phase of male-free bus in the Meri Seif Fleet to promote women's safety and dignity. Over 500 female bus commuters are expected to catch this free women only bus daily.

Participants during the launch are standing in front of the he second Meri Seif Bus. Photo: UN Women Papua New Guinea

The first Meri Seif Bus strated operating by Ginigoada in August 2014 and the purple bus been a fixture on the road between town and Gerehu. Support for the first year of operation has been received from Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PricewaterhouseCoopers, CLP Group and Digicel. Over 400 women have been using the service daily. This second Meri Seif Bus will travel 9-Mile to Manu via the 3-Mile hospital.

At the launch event Jeffrey Buchanan, Representative of UN Women in Papua New Guinea, congratulated Ginigoada on their collaborative effort and emphasized, “the importance of women only buses as a temporary measure to improve women’s freedom of movement around the city.”

(from left to right) Pastor Mike (GInigoada Foundation Manager), Rabura Aiga (Ginigoada Board Member), Winfred Oraka (Programme Manager - Australian Government) and Jeffrey Buchanan (Representative - UN Women Papua New Guinea) at the launch of second Meri Bus. Photo: UN Women Papua New Guinea

The operation of the Meri Seif Buses is one of several interventions planned to address violence against women and girls on public transport in Port Moresby. Six million Papua New Guinean Kina (USD 1.97 million) has been provided by the Australian Government and UN Women Australian National Committee to support the comprehensive Safe Public Transport Programme.

The funding support will be for operating the Meri Seif Bus for the next three years; trialling cash-less ticketing; improving bus stops based on the findings of women’s safety audits; working with Road Traffic Authority and PMV drivers to increase prevention and improve responses to violence against women and girls on and around public transport; and conducting a behaviour change campaign to address violence against women and girls.

(from left to right) Kathryn Webber (Safe Cities Programme Specialist) and Winfred Oraka (Programme Manager - Australian Government) at the launch of Meri Bus. Photo: UN Women Papua New Guinea

According to the scoping study UN Women conducted in 2014, over 90 per cent of women and girls interviewed said they experienced some form of violence when accessing public transport. This included time while they were on buses, waiting at bus stops, walking to and from bus stops, or riding in taxis. The most common types of violence reported by women and girls included verbal sexual remarks, extortion, robbery, threats or intimidation, inappropriate touching, and indecent exposure. The study also established that women took more trips than men and travelled more days of the week. With limited alternatives in modes of public transport around the city, the experience of violence while accessing public transportation has become widespread.

Rabura Aiga, Ginigoada Board Member, thanked the on-going support of the National Capital District Governor, Hon Powes Parkop, and donation of the buses to the Australian representatives. He stated the support of the governor to this initiative.

Pastor Mike, Ginigoada Foundation Manager, stated that he, “longs for the day where Port Moresby does not need these buses but until that day comes (where there is no violence against women and girls on buses), Ginigoada will continue to work in partnership with the city and UN Women to ensure women and children can move around the city with safety and dignity."