UN Women celebrates National Women’s Day in Port Moresby
Date:
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – 24 March marks Papua New Guinea National Women’s Day and UN Women celebrated the day with the women of Port Moresby through numerous community outreach events. UN Women visited G4S headquarters during their morning assembly and shared the message of gender equality. UN Women Country Representative highlighted the important role of security personnel in protecting women and girls in public spaces. More than 50 men were inducted on the UN Women HeForShe campaign and committed through photographs.
I thank UN Women, Ginigoada and other partners who have contributed in providing this Meri Seif bus service. For us women, it’s always a challenge getting on PMV buses, where we often get harassed by males. I am a single mother of 5 girls and I want my girls to live in a society that is free of violence against women. I am happy to celebrate National women’s day today, however I want to appeal to everyone who has sons to start raising them up to respect women and be responsible fathers in future. Men and women need to work together for gender equality.
Meri Seif Bus commuter, Helen Nenepa (Tete-Gerehu)
Concurrently, UN Women Safe Transport team, in partnership with Ginigoada, held an awareness session on board the Meri Safe Bus. The Safe Transport team acknowledged the contribution of women to nation-building and discussed the specific challenges women and girls still faced in this male-dominated society. Information on violence against women in public spaces, low level of political participation by women and access to equal opportunities was disseminated to commuters. Women commuters shared their experiences of violence in public spaces and reiterated the importance of the public transport options that allowed them to travel safely and freely. In the discussion, commuters also shared that it was important for men to play a part in promoting safety of women and girls.
The National Women’s Day celebrations ended with the community event held jointly at Gerehu Market by UN Women, National Capital District Commission and the Royal PNG Constabulary, under the Safe Cities Programme. Speeches recognized the significant role of women in PNG society and development, and called for men and boys to support the empowerment of women and girls. Community involvement was dynamic, with young and old all participating in the games that followed the speeches. Men, women and children came forward to pay tribute to their women role models. One young lady participant reminded everyone that, “without our mothers, we would not be where we are.”
For more information:
Please contact: Christina Cheong
Project Specialist for UN Women Papua New Guinea
E-mail: [ Click to reveal ]
Website: http://png.unwomen.org