High level mission to PNG and Bougainville a success
MEDIA RELEASE
Development partners to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund have left Papua New Guinea with a better understanding of the issues that the Fund is attempting to tackle in-country.
The five-day mission to PNG, including Bougainville, provided delegates with the opportunity to meet with members of both the Government of PNG and the Autonomous Bougainville Government as well as with women leaders, youth, human rights defenders and Community Government members. Their time in the Autonomous Region also saw them visit the constituency of Hagogohe, where they witnessed a vibrant display of culture and tradition with Hagogohe reaffirming itself to be weapons-free and referendum ready.
Ambassador Hanns Schumacher, a member of the Peacebuilding Fund Advisory Group and representative from Germany, said the Fund is doing a fantastic job in supporting the peace process in Bougainville by bringing the many key actors together.
“I am really impressed by the manner in which the Peacebuilding Fund is promoting the decision makers in society: women, youth and others to bring everyone forward to the road of reconciliation and come to a non-violent result for the referendum,” Ambassador Schumacher said.
Since mid-2015, the Peacebuilding Fund has been supporting political dialogue between the two Governments and Parliaments, various initiatives to improve and further awareness of the referendum and the Bougainville Peace Agreement; improved access to trauma healing services and efforts to reduce community violence; Bougainville factional unification; and an increased role for women and youth in peacebuilding.
A second phase of support from the PBF was approved in May 2018, and is providing support to PNG and Bougainville on political dialogue, awareness on Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA), and weapons disposal.
President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Chief Dr John Momis, said his priority lies in ensuring that the referendum is free, fair and without violence.
"Whichever way the cookie crumbles in the referendum, our government and people will be satisfied, as long as the process is fair and inclusive and addresses the underlying grievances," President Momis said.
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