Painim Aut Na Luksave: Understanding Gender-Based Violence to Secure Sustainable Development in Papua New Guinea Report

This report, developed under the leadership of Papua New Guinea’s Department for Community Development and Religion (DfCDR) with support from UNDP and DFAT, presents a comprehensive picture of gender-based violence (GBV) in PNG. It draws on both a baseline survey and an extensive literature review to explore the scale, causes, and responses to GBV, situating PNG’s experience within global evidence.

The report highlights that, despite years of effort from government, civil society, and international partners, GBV in PNG remains a widespread and urgent issue. It considers why progress has been limited, pointing to systemic challenges in prevention and response. Yet the message is ultimately one of hope: the evidence clearly shows that long-term, integrated strategies — such as the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence 2016–2025 — can address the root causes of violence and improve outcomes for women, girls, and communities.

Designed to be accessible to a wide audience — including government, NGOs, the private sector, and international organisations — the report provides essential data to support the rollout of the National GBV Strategy and offers a baseline against which future progress can be measured. In doing so, it calls for coordinated, evidence-based action that prioritises the safety, dignity, and rights of women and girls, while contributing to broader sustainable development goals.