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Via Fiji Women's Rights Movement - FWRM - naeemah@fwrm.org.fj

 

Papua New Guinea  - Crisis for Kup Women for Peace in PNG

 

Kup Women for Peace (KWP) are an outstanding group of women whom many of you will have heard of: for more than nine years, they have been working to stop tribal fighting in Papua New Guinea.  These women are the face of courage. They have had an amazing impact on their communities and because of their efforts have reduced the endemic tribal conflict and improved the lives of women living in Simbu Province in the Highlands of PNG. Their work has involved intervening and stopping violence, improving community health, promoting social cohesion, training young women and men, maintaining peace and security by developing self sustaining village-based livelihoods, and finding local solutions to the long standing inter-generational violence. They are supported by a large number of dedicated volunteers and members.

 

After nine years of peace, at the end of last year, a devastating tribal fight involving more than 13 clans has broken out (over ownership of a gravel quarry), which has spiralled out of control and despite KWP attempts at mediation, is still on-going.  Because of their work, the women have become targets of aggression.  So far ten people have been killed hundreds of houses burnt to the ground;  food gardens, and coffee trees have been destroyed; pigs killed, the KWP centre, schools and health centres wrecked, and large numbers of guns have been brought into the area.  Most people have fled and are living in tents and temporary shelters in the mountains or along the Wahgi River.  The fighting has had a high personal impact on the leaders of KWP:  Mary Kini’s brother, a community policeman, was shot; Angela’s family is camping in a temporary warehouse building along with 50 families; Agnes’ family has left the area to live with relatives along the Highway; many members are having problems finding food, as they cannot access their gardens, or they have been destroyed.

 

We know how disasters can be so morally defeating and in recent discussions with them they wondered why people will send money to tsunami victims but not victims of internal conflict.  They have asked their partners and friends for help.  We promised to make an appeal to people to try and show solidarity with them. We asked them what they needed and they said, “Your friendship, your prayers, for us and any money you can send to help our members rebuild their lives and pay for their kids go to other schools.” We need to celebrate their courage and help our sisters out. They have lost members of their group, their office was burned down, their livelihoods destroyed. The families don't have money for school fees or even clothing and books.

 

KWP hope to be able to get through the current crisis and plan to continue their peace building work.  Oxfam is supporting them to relocate their operations to Kerowagi, where they will offer services for women victims of conflict and violence.  However, they still need immediate relief funding to enable the staff and volunteers to pay for school fees and find food and shelter while they are unable to return to their homes.

 

To offer support:

 

Naeemah Khan, Programme Manager

Fiji Women's Rights Movement

naeemah@fwrm.org.fj

 

Wendy Lee, PNG Programme Manager, Oxfam New Zealand

oxfam@oxfam.org.nz

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Who are the Kup Women for Peace in Papua New Guinea?

http://www.oxfam.org.nz/index.asp?s1=What%20we%20do&s2=Where%20we%20work&s3=Pacific&s4=Papua%20New%20Guinea&s5=KWP

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http://www.ssrnetwork.net/document_library/detail/4434/the-kup-women-for-peace-approach-to-peacebuilding-taking-the-lead-in-the-papua-new-guinea-national-elections

Papua New Guinea - The Kup Women for Peace Approach to Peacebuilding & Fair Elections

How has Kup Women for Peace (KWP), a community organisation in Papua New Guinea, contributed to reducing violence and ensuring free and fair elections? What progress has KWP made in changing attitudes about women and their roles in society in the Kup sub-district? This article from Gender & Development describes the work of KWP. It shows how in seven short years, KWP has gone from tribal peacebuilding to ensuring a free, fair and violence-free election in Kup.

The Kup sub-district has experienced 20 years of insecurity, violence and unrest, which has contributed to a lack of social and economic growth. Gender inequality is a feature of life in Kup, where women have a lower standing than men. It was in this context that KWP was formed in 1999 to mobilise people to put pressure on traditional leaders to end tribal violence. Working alongside formal and traditional structures, KWP has played an important leadership role in changing attitudes about both violence and women’s roles in society. This is evident from the role KWP played in ensuring a free, fair and peaceful political process in Kup during the 2007 national elections.

During previous elections, Kup experienced widespread voter intimidation, pressure on women not to vote and violence between supporters of rival candidates. During the 2007 national elections, KWP took a leading role to improve the validity of the electoral process and create conditions for peace by:

KWP’s approach to peacebuilding is multi-faceted and locally appropriate, enfranchising many women and educating men in the process. It includes the following elements:





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