Introduction

A report published by the Overseas Development Institutehighlights rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to be of “epidemic proportions”. It is estimated that two-thirds of women have experienced some form of GBV, while 41% of men admit to having raped someone. Some of the most alarming statistics are recorded in the Highlands provinces. The following recommendations targeted towards community, non governmental organization (NGO) efforts and policymakers are based on literature gathered during an in-depth investigation of existing literature on GBV in the PNG Highland provinces of Chimbu, Enga, Hela, Jiwaka, the Southern, Western and Eastern Highlands provinces.

According to the literature, the main factors contributing to GBV in the Highlands are gender norms and ideologies, intimate partner violence, polygyny, bride price, tribal conflict, the introduction of religion, economic industries across the Highlands, and inadequate local and international policy frameworks.

Gender Norms and Roles & GBV Recommendations

Educate communities on negative gender stereotypes

Community-level workshops, educational programs, and localized campaigns could dismantle harmful gender stereotypes that exacerbate GBV. Engaging men and women in such initiatives is key to combating harmful social norms, often tied to changing masculinities, and by including both men and women in these initiatives, we can address any potential backlash that may arise. This would be especially important for younger generations.

Bride Price & GBV Recommendations

Educate community on bride price and its connection to GBV

This would inform local communities of potential dangers associated with bride price. This may encourage younger generations to alter or forgo bride price if the risk of violence is too great.

Limiting the value of bride price exchange

Researchers examining bride prices in regions of Africa have proposed that capping bride prices will reduce power, hostility and tensionsbetween the bride, groom and families.

Turn bride price into an unreciprocal parental gift

This has been recommended in the context of African bride price exchange. This compromise would ensure the Melanesian cultural ideologies of “gift giving” are intact.

Mandate that bride price is voluntary

Law and regulations should be created and enacted locally and nationally to ensure bride price and any marriage payment is not required for a marriage contract to be valid.

Abolish bride price?

This has been proposed and debated by several local and international organizations. It is worth noting bride price practices have diminished due to intermarriage between Highlands and coastal tribes (Neuendorf 2020). Eliminating bride price may eliminate some forms of GBV.

Tribal Conflict & GBV Recommendations

Community-based programs and educational opportunities for the youth

Community engagement can steer young men away from destructive behavior. Educated men are 64% less likely to believe that wife-beating is justifiable.

Implement stronger law enforcement mechanisms and courts to act as mediators in conflict

This can reduce casualties and the frequency of conflicts, better protecting women and girls.

Monitor the sale of high-powered firearms, drugs and alcohol

In monitoring their sale, warfare and sexual assaults, resulting from their consumption, would be less frequent.

Construct training programs for conflict resolution and peace building

Contemporary warfare is widespread and difficult to contain. Cooperation is crucial and organizations specialized in conflict management must be mobilized.

Religious Institutions & GBV Recommendations

Promote gender equality through a religiously informed lens

Churches across PNG have addressed gender inequality and GBV in their religious communities by framing the message in light of a fundamental biblical idea that women and men were created equally, and that God teaches kindness, compassion and respect (Eves 2012, p.5).

Condemn GBV in all religious denominations

Eves (2012) interviewed pastors at a Bible Missionary Church located in the Southern Highlands and found that men who beat their wives were suspended or expelled from Church activities and underwent counselling in order to address and publicly denounce anger and violence directed towards women in the Church community. Such approaches require careful review to ensure no further harm is done to women as a result of the intervention.

Women and Economy & GBV Recommendations

Economic strategies that prove empowering for women

Economic strategies must remain conscious of the increased burden that capitalist structures place on women undertaking both unpaid and paid labor. The commercial cultivation of broccoli and pineapple in the Eastern Highlands has proved a successful economic strategy. The cultivation of other vegetables, including onions and carrots, and cash crops are encouraged.

Increase women’s formal employment to gain economic autonomy

As the World Bank’s data shows, agriculture plays a key role in PNG’s economy and women are often informally employed in this sector. Consequently, women receive lower salaries, fewer benefits and lower social insurance than men, increasing their economic dependence on husbands and male relatives.

Mining & GBV Recommendations

Extend and expand “Women in Mining” action plan

The World Bank wrote a “Women in Mining” action plan from 2007-2012 with specific goals to address risks and increase the role of women in mining operations across PNG. The PNG government in partnership with all provinces in the Highlands should create a long term plan based on the “Women in Mining” framework to improve the conditions of women and prevent GBV as a result of mining operations. Such frameworks need to be mindful of local gender norms and dynamics and strive to include gender transformative components in these programmes.

Mobilization of NGOs in mining communities in PNG

Increased representation and support of local advocacy groups in mining communities such as Porgera valley, focusing on improvement in water access, environmental restoration and increased roles of women in mining operations.

Policy & GBV Recommendations

Increase the presence of safe houses all over PNG, especially remote areas

Women may be even more traumatized by emotional than physical violence (Gangster-Breidler, 2010). Distributing public funds in creating safe houses with counselling services seems an effective way to protect women’s mental and physical health.

Implement counselling services for men to control their violence

An effective method to educate a non-violent culture would be to create counselling services for men where they could identify the causes of their violent behaviours and learn how to control their violence (Ganster-Breidler, 2010; Koyiet, 2017; Schafer & Koyiet, 2018 ).

Promote legal rights training courses for women

Sharing information concerning women’s rights, legal and political tools through community-level training courses could be an effective way to mitigate GBV. Sharing stories of female leaders could help female citizens to gain trust in institutions and younger generations to acquire a gender-equitable vision of society.

Expand support services for victims and training for support workers

Pacific Women recommend creating new services where victims can receive support from specialized personnel. For example, the 2016-2017 International Committee of the Red Cross’s project in the Southern Highlands provided medical equipment to eight health centres assisting GBV victims.

Monitor existing GBV policy implementation

Pacific Women highlight the need to research how change happens across project outcomes. They recommend investing in monitoring, documenting, and sharing success to inform future policies.

Impose sentences that reflect GBV victims’ pain

A culture of victim-blaming continues to exist, therefore sentencing is often noticeably light for a rape trial. Sentences that reflect the victims’ pain should be imposed, increasing their trust in the judicial system.

Use grounded approach solutions in informal conflict mediation and court structures

Conflict resolution in GBV situations should use approaches grounded in Melanesian customs and values – such as the solidarity between families, clans and tribal affiliations. In order to pursue improvements in individual human rights for women- such as addressing GBV issues and occurrences, a community approach is often valued and effective as the clan and tribe is involved in the solution. Essentially, encouraging gender equality through development and international strategies such as the “gender agenda” premised on “universalism” is not necessarily effective in all communities.

Implement safety measures to increase women’s involvement in politics

An IFES report recommends the following: establishing separate polling booths for women and increasing security at the polls; identifying key political actors who can act as catalysts to reduce VAW; implementing a temporary gender quota; providing training to aspiring female candidates on running campaigns and engaging with male candidates; implementing media campaigns to reduce hate speech against female candidates.

Create safer workplaces for women

Encouraging companies to address GBV will increase safety at work, reduce absenteeism and raise awareness of this issue. Some practical tools are: creating training and legal guides for companies; increasing security in remote workplaces; avoiding night shifts for female employees; advocating of costs of GBV and benefits of combating it.

Drama performance as a recommendation

Drama workshops are specifically effective in remote areas of PNG with low literacy rates, as messages regarding gender norms, GBV and SARV laws may be conveyed in dramatized plays in local languages such as pidgin (see Seeds Theatre Group).

Increased media reporting

Media can play an important role by holding the government and law enforcement accountable for a GBV case that is reported. Media outlets should provide timely updates on GBV cases and newspapers should even have a designated tracking column for GBV incidents and cases. This would address the current issue in PNG and across the Highlands of GBV cases being dismissed or forgotten about due to lack of awareness and attention.

Research Gaps & Future Directions

Gender norms

Greater research on gender norms in the Highlands is needed, especially in the Western Highlands and Enga provinces. Research on GBV experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals is also lacking.

Intimate partner violence

MSF highlights the lack of health services. Future research might focus on the psychological impacts of GBV. Updated statistics on IPV in the Highlands are also needed. Research could target economic and structural drivers of the negative consequences of contemporary polygynous practices.

Bride price

Greater research on bride price will shed light on current circumstances and inform government and local organization responses to the issue.