Standing up against sorcery accusations during 16 Days of Activism
Each year in Papua New Guinea, hundreds of women are falsely accused of killing people with witchcraft. The accused often face death, torture or complete ostracization from their communities.
Unfortunately, there are concerning signs that cases of sorcery accusation related violence are spreading to parts of Papua New Guinea where the practice has traditionally not existed. In Enga Province, the first cases occurred only in 2015.
UNDP is working closely with the Catholic Diocese of Wabag to eradicate this rising epidemic of violence. Together, we are providing shelter, medical care and counseling to survivors, and supporting them in reintegrating into their communities. We are also working to prevent future accusations by advocating against the practice among vulnerable communities and former perpetrators of violence.
Annabelle: a survivor's perspective
Years ago, Annabelle survived survived a mass attack on nine suspected witches after a prominent leader died in her community. Watch the video below to see how she was able to recover from the traumatic experience and reintegrate into her village after tireless advocacy carried out by the Diocese and its army of volunteers.
Kevin Lungu: a perpetrator's perspective
All over Papua New Guinea, the perpetrators of sorcery accusation related violence are almost always drug addicted youth from violent and traumatizing background. One of them is Kevin Lungu, a former leader of a notorious drug gang from Enga Province.
Watch the video below to see how advocacy trainings and support provided by UNDP and the Diocese made Kevin regret his actions and transformed him and his gang of 77 boys into a group of advocates against sorcery accusations, tribal fighting and drug abuse.
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UNDP and theUnited Church broker a peace agreement between clans in Mariste, Hela Province
On December 9, UNDP and the United Church PNG successfully finalized a peace agreement between two clans in Hela Province's remote Mariste community.
The peace agreement was the result of 8 years of persistent mediation work. The two clans had engaged in armed combat since 2014, which resulted in over 3,000 people being displaced from their communities.
To help the communities recover from the conflict, UNDP and the United Church have also constructed a new market, two community centers and a water tank in Mariste. These facilities were ceremoniously declared open after the peace signing ceremony. In addition, the event witnessed the groundbreaking of a new health post, which UNDP and the United Church will build in the community in the coming months.
“Ten years ago, everything in Mariste was destroyed because of this conflict. To see you coming together today and hug is each other for peace is truly inspiring. These new facilities we are opening today are not just buildings, but the foundations for lasting peace in your community,” said UNDP Resident Representative, Nicholas Booth, during the ceremony.
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UNDP and the Enga Provincial Government launch a recovery plan for Mulitaka landslide survivors
The comprehensive recovery plan, which UNDP provided critical technical assistance in developing, marks a crucial step towards recovery for communities affected by the devastating landslide that struck Enga Province's Mulitaka region on 24 May 2024.
The plan, which was unveiled by the Enga Provincial Government and UNDP in Wabag on 13 November 2024, prioritizes restoring livelihoods, strengthening disaster preparedness, and resettling over 1,000 households affected by the crisis. It also has a strong focus on empowering highly vulnerable groups, including women, children, and persons with disability.
In another victory for the early recovery process, the Parliament of Papua New Guinea passed the Mulitaka Resettlement Act on 28 November 2024. The Act validates the recovery framework developed by UNDP and the Provincial Authorities. UNDP will co-chair the Mulitaka Resettlement Authority and lead the early recovery sector to coordinate and supervise the implementation of the plan. This marks the first time in years that the early recovery sector has been activated in Papua New Guinea.
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UNDP opens its second Agriculture Lab in Hela Province
The Agriculture Lab was opened in Idauwi, which has been a hotspot for tribal conflict in recent times.
The initiative was driven by UNDP trained women from 18 local clans who wanted to put an end to the fighting between their communities. The facility, which was built against all odds during the conflict, seeks to promote peace and harmony by providing women from all clans a collective space to train each other on income generating skills, climate resilience, and disaster risk reduction.
“The tribal fighting is stopping Hela from moving forward. By succeeding in building this facility, you have proven that when women come together, nothing can stop them. You are the ones bringing peace, progress, and prosperity to this province and I salute you for that,” stated UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Nicholas Booth, in the opening ceremony of the facility.
Watch the video below to learn more about the facility and the bold women behind it!
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UNDP hosts the PNG National Youth Mock Parliament 2024
With the generous support of the European Union and the United States, UNDP and UNFPA jointly hosted the Papua New Guinea National Mock Youth Parliament 2024 between 18-23 November 2024.
Each year, the PNG National Youth Mock Parliament aims to cultivate a new generation of civic-minded leaders by giving local youth an opportunity to participate in a week of workshops and simulations that teach them about the importance of transparency, equity, and sustainable development for good governance.
“Today, we stand united by a shared vision: empowering youth to become informed, engaged, and ethical leaders of tomorrow. The Youth Mock Parliament is not just a simulation, it is a powerful exercise in nation-building,” stated UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. Aadil Mansoor to the participant in the opening session.
One of the key highlights of the week was the Social Impact Pitch Project, which enabled groups of youth to devise and present practical solutions to the most pressing challenges impacting their communities. The five groups that ranked highest in the competition will receive support from UNFPA to further refine their projects in January 2025.
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Kuglkane Tribe signs a conservation deed to protect 9000 hectares of customary land in Simbu Province
The conservation deed will help protect native tree species and endangered birds in Kundiawa Gembogl District.
In the past decades, the district's unique biodiversity has been threatened by increasing population growth and unsustainable and uncontrolled forms of resource extraction. The conservation deed will be implemented through a set of guidelines and rules developed by the community to safeguard their natural resources.
The decision of the tribe is historic for conservation efforts in Papua New Guinea as it will make Mitnande Local Level Government the country's first Local Level Government boundary to be entirely covered by community-led conservation deeds. In the past years, the two other major tribes in the region, the Inaugl and the Denglagu Maugagl, have already signed conservation deed to protect their customary land.
“This decision demonstrates your commitment to the future of your children who will benefit from it for the rest of their lives. Signing this deed will help cultivate a culture of peace, both between local communities and with nature," stated UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. Aadil Mansoor at the signing ceremony attended by over a thousand people from the three tribes.
Learn more about the remarkable value of conserving Papua New Guinea's extraordinary natural resources from the video below.
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UNDP unites women parliamentarians to advance gender equality in PNG politics
The Joint Parliamentary Women's Caucus of Papua New Guinea, which comprises of eight women members of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea and the Bougainville House of Representatives, gathered in Port Moresby for the second stakeholder consultation of the Joint Parliamentary Women’s Caucus this year.
The occasion, which was facilitated by UNDP with the support of the Australian Government, brought together female policymakers, civil society representatives, private sector leaders, and international organizations to devise strategies for implementing policy reforms and systemic changes to promote women’s representation in politics and leadership roles in Papua New Guinea.
During the consultation, the participants reviewed and received feedback on the Strategic Action Plan the eight women parliamentarians of the Caucus had made to advance women’s status in Papua New Guinean politics earlier this year. Some of the measures discussed included legislative and policy options to improve women’s representation in elected bodies and providing capacity-building programs and campaign support for women running in the 2025 Bougainville Elections and 2027 PNG National Elections.
"This consultation provides an inclusive platform to address pressing issues, share perspectives, and drive solutions that reflect our diverse needs. Through this dialogue, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women in leadership,’’ stated Gov. Rufina Peter, the Co-Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Women Caucus and Governor of Central Province in her remarks to the participants.
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United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and its partner governments visit Southern Highlands Province
In October 2024, UNDP and its sister agencies IOM, UNFPA, and UN Women had the honour of welcoming a delegation of high-level representatives from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UN PBF) and the governments of Australia, Norway, United Kingdom and United States to Southern Highlands Province.
During their two-day mission, the delegation headed by the Deputy Chief of UN PBF, Marcus Lenzen, observed the results of the UN Highlands Joint Programme, which UN PBF has generously funded since 2020. The programme has focused on mediation of intercommunal conflicts, empowerment of women and youth, and supporting local communities in adapting to the impacts of climate change.
For UNDP, the highlight of the mission came with the delegation visiting Suku Valley, where UNDP and the Catholic Diocese of Mendi successfully mediated a peace agreement between 9 warring clans in 2023. The agreement brought an end to 5 years of conflict, which displaced 40,000 people and brought all crucial services to a standstill.
During the visit, the delegates engaged with community leaders and women from all clans to hear their accounts of life during combat as well as their suggestions for future interventions to maintain peace in the valley. Education of youth, ensuring equal opportunities for women and girls, and providing mental health and psychosocial support for the survivors of the conflict were particularly highlighted as important steps for building a more stable future in the valley.
“The stories the women and men of Suku shared of loss and suffering through violent conflict were harrowing. Their efforts to rebuild their communities and resolve disputes peacefully, with support from the United Nations and local partners, were encouraging even if many challenges remain,” the Deputy Chief of UN PBF, Marcus Lenzen, stated at the end of the visit.
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UNDP supports in establishing a Whistleblower Call Center
In order to combat corruption within the public sector in Papua New Guinea, the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council (PMNEC) of the Government of Papua New Guinea is establishing an internal Whistleblower Call Center for the department.
The call center will serve as an outlet for staff of PMNEC to report any corruption or wrongdoing within the department. Such mechanisms have proven to be effective in curbing misuse of finances in the public sector in other countries around the globe.
In order to support the PMNEC in establishing the center, UNDP handed over a batch equipment to the Department in early October. The equipment was handed over during a formal ceremony attended by the Ambassador of the European Union to Papua New Guinea, H.E. Jacques Fradin; UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. Aadil Mansoor; and the Deputy Secretary of PMNEC, Mr. Joshua Uvau.
‘’I commend the effective collaboration that has brought us to this milestone, which marks a pivotal moment in our efforts to combat corruption and foster transparency in Papua New Guinea. By delivering this essential IT equipment, we are reinforcing our commitment to strengthening governance and accountability,’’ stated the Ambassador of the European Union to Papua New Guinea, H.E. Jacques Fradin, during the ceremony.
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