LocationsTo enhance the capacity of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) in protecting human rights and empowering women, UNDP facilitated a training for the newly appointed Committee on Gender Equality and Human Rights of the Bougainville House of Representatives this week.
UNDP collaborates with Members of the Bougainville House of Representatives to strengthen human rights and gender equality
July 28, 2023
Members of the newly appointed Committee on Gender Equality and Human Rights of the Bougainville House of Representatives after the training.
Velea Vagi | UNDP Papua New Guinea
Through interactive sessions conducted by former members of the committee and experts from UNDP, UN Women and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the two-day training provided the newly appointed committee members a comprehensive overview of their mandate to strengthen human rights and gender equality in Bougainville.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Theresa Kaetavara, and The Clerk of the House of Representatives, Hon. Robert Tapi, participated in the activities.
“This workshop is being held at a critical time when human rights and gender equality continue to be under threat in Bougainville and around the world. I think the conversations we have had have reminded us of our enormous responsibility as politicians to help groups that continue to face violence and other human rights abuses. The laws we pass as legislators must protect the human rights of every community member,” the Deputy Speaker stated after the training.
The Deputy Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives, Hon. Theresa Kaetavara, currently serves as the chair of the Committee on Gender Equality and Human Rights.
Velea Vagi | UNDP Papua New Guinea
The participants were also briefed on the committee’s responsibility to accelerate Bougainville’s efforts towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Human rights and gender equality are integrally linked with all 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which all members states of the United Nations, including Papua New Guinea, have committed to.
This linkage was highlighted by UNDP Resident Representative a.i., Mr. Edward Vrkic, after the training. “Countries cannot make progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals without simultaneously making progress on human rights and gender equality. By enhancing the institutional capacities of the Autonomous Bougainville Government through trainings and dialogues such as this one, UNDP is committed to ensuring that human rights and gender equality are at the heart of all future governance in Bougainville,” he stated.
For more information, please contact:
Juho Valta
Communications Analyst, UNDP Papua New Guinea
juho.emil.aleksi.valta@undp.org
+67579663712
