TRAINING WOMEN LEADERS AND PEACE MEDIATORS IN PANGUNA

The 30 women participants with their certificates at the closing of their Women’s Leadership and Management Workshop.

Australia is working with the Autonomous Bougainville Government to increase the opportunities for equal participation of Women in governance and peace mediation activities in the Panguna District.

Often bearing the double burden of domestic chores as well as additional expectations arising from being a matrilineal society, women from this region are shouldering a disproportionate responsibility and workload.

Consequently the Australian Government through the Panguna Peace Building Strategy is working with the Autonomous Bougainville Government to try and restore some balance, reducing women’s vulnerability and encourage their participation in governance through capacity building and training.  This intervention is aimed at producing better equipped women leaders and peace mediators.

In November 2013, thirty women leaders were trained in Basic Leadership and Management in a five day workshop and 180 people (half of whom were women)  were trained to become peace mediators from the four Councils of Elders areas of  the Panguna District.  These training sessions were facilitated by representatives from the ABG and the Panguna Peace Office.

These initiatives are considered vital to the region's prosperity which is dependent on achieving peace and security. There remains a need to reunite and heal divided communities.   This is the role of the Panguna Peace Building Strategy, a forward-looking reconciliation and mediation initiative for Panguna and its surrounds.   It was set up by the Autonomous Bougainville Government in 2011 to help communities turn a new page; rise above the factionalism, division and suspicions and work towards developing mutual trust.  

The Panguna Peace Building Strategy has the backing of the Governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia, through Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen,  providing K1.28 million to complement the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s funding commitment of K1 million.

At the closing of the Women Leaders training Panguna District Executive Manager Otto Noruka said Bougainville need good decisive leaders who understand and place the community’s needs and priorities at the heart of decision making.

Me’ekamui leader Moses Pipiro described the training as vital for Panguna, given its history of violence and suffering, but note that women and children are often hit hardest by disturbances and upheaval.

“This is why we need to encourage the women to be in a position to seek and manage any future funding to start and sustain projects for the benefit of their associations, communities and families. Women have played a vital role in the Panguna peace process and we in Me’ekamui, respect our women so much that we came out to negotiate peace with ABG and the Government of Papuan New Guinea.”  said Mr Pipiro

SPSN Deputy Program Director Dr Naihuwo Ahai hopes that the training will motivate the participants to rise up and becoming better leaders in the male dominated regimes that exists in Panguna and Bougainville.

 “Women in Bougainville have a big gap to bridge to reach the senior positions men currently hold, whether in politics or associations and communities that they belong to.”

Dr Ahai challenged the women leaders to put into practice what they have learnt at the training, starting an inexorable march towards a brighter and fairer future for the women of Bougainville.