Locations
Our Focus
Equality for Women and Girls
Overview
Papua New Guinea remains among the most unequal countries for women and girls. In the UNDP Gender Inequality Index, the country ranks 151st out of 166 countries. Over two thirds of Papua New Guinean women are estimated to have experienced intimate partner violence at some point in their lives and the country is facing a concerning rise in cases of sorcery accusation related violence, which mostly targets women.
In addition, women’s representation in politics and decision-making roles remains low. Only three out of the 118 members serving in the Parliament of Papua New Guinea are currently women. Furthermore, the average Papua New Guinean woman receives only around 4 years of schooling and under half of Papua New Guinean women are estimated to currently participate in the country’s labour force.
Improving the status of women and girls in Papua New Guinean society is among UNDP's key priorities in the country. Together with our partners, we equip women from vulnerable backgrounds with critical income-generating skills and suppor women-led micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises in expanding their operations. We train safe house workers on responsible forms of counseling and build the capacity of civil society organizations to prvent and respond to cases of gender-based and sorcery accusation related violence. In addition, we work with female members of the Papua New Guinean Parliament and Bougainville House of Representatives to actively advance solutions to empower the country’s women and girls.
