The project, Kommuniti Lukautim OI Meri (KLOM III): Addressing Violence against Women and Girls in Papua New Guinea, aims to reduce gender-based violence in the country by decreasing community tolerance to gender-based violence, expanding services for survivors and empowering women and girls to have more decision-making power. KLOM III continues the work of the KLOM project in West Sepik and Western Highlands provinces and now includes the East Sepik province. Project work covers:
Prevention: Communities acting to reduce violence against women and girls
- Train community mobilizers to act as local points for prevention
- Conduct trainings with women’s and men’s action groups to build their capacity for community involvement
- Engage men to understand their roles and responsibilities
- Strengthen community leadership for planning
Response: Quality coordinated services for survivors
- Strengthen family support centers in health facilities, family sexual violence units of law enforcement agencies, community-level child protection and welfare services, and provincial coordination networks
- Empower village magistrates, ward counselors and school board management to educate girls and boys about harmful gender norms that endanger not only women and girls but also men and boys
Empowerment: Safer schools and communities for women and girls
- Implement a classroom manual focusing on human rights and intolerance of gender-based violence
- Train women’s and men’s action groups on savings, budgets, livelihood development, and savings and loans associations
- Promote financial inclusion of women through access to microfinance
KLOM III is funded by the Government of Australia through Cardno Emerging Markets (Australia) in partnership with Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development.