Representatives from Papua New Guinea joined over 1, 000 participants at the 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters (5WCWS) in Sydney, Australia, the world’s largest forum dedicated to ending violence against women and children.
The event that took place from the 15th- 18th of September, brought together frontline practitioners, policymakers, and advocates to exchange innovations, evidence-based practices, and strategies for managing shelters and safe houses.
Among the PNG delegation was Ms. Diane Kambanei, Director of the National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Secretariat, accompanied by officials from the Department for Community Development, Religion and Youth.
“The conference was an extraordinary opportunity for the National GBV Secretariat and its partners to benchmark PNG’s GBV response against premier global standards.”
The event came at a pivotal time, as the Government of PNG, through its Medium-Term Development Plan IV and the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to GBV (2026–2035).
This aims to have eighty registered and operational safe houses nationwide by 2027.
However, a recent baseline survey led by the Secretariat found only 51 safe houses currently operational, highlighting service gaps and resourcing constraints.
Ms. Kambanei emphasized that improving these systems is “vital to ensure dignity, protection, and equity for GBV survivors.”
Participation in the conference enabled PNG representatives to network with international counterparts, learn from leading models, and position PNG’s shelter services within a broader global movement.
PNG’s attendance was supported by the PNG Women Lead Program and the Australia- Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership (APLJ), reflecting Australia’s ongoing commitment to gender equality and its partnership with the Government of PNG to combat violence against women and girls.
Key frontline stakeholders took part in the conference, including:
• Shirley Kaupa and Emily Papa, Magna Carta PNG
• Rachel Pinda, RPNGC Family and Sexual Violence Unit, Port Moresby
• Sister Techla Gamog, Catholic Safe House Inc.
• Major Velena Iga, House of Hope, The Salvation Army
Their involvement ensured strong frontline representation and enriched sector wide learning.
To extend the impact of the conference, a post-event learning session is planned for Port Moresby, where participants will share key insights and experiences with stakeholders across the justice and community safety sector.
