Fostering Youth Leadership to Address Gender-Based Violence in Papua New Guinea: Insights from Emerging Champions for Change

Abstract

Gender-based violence is a critical public health issue impacting individuals, families, and communities across the world. This paper shares insights gathered from action research aimed at harnessing the aspirations of young people in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to initiate community-based actions against gender-based violence (GBV). The intervention model, co-designed and implemented with 25 university students who were engaged in a series of leadership sessions, was evaluated over six months in 2023. These ‘champions for change’ cultivated the confidence to leverage their influence for social transformation and to empower others in their communities. The findings highlight the significance of education and awareness initiatives and reveal gaps in resourcing and support to enable access to information, services, and opportunities among young people across the country. Achieving sustainable development and enhanced gender equality necessitates concerted efforts to upgrade educational infrastructure, augment teacher training, and advocate for inclusive curricula that respect the diverse cultural and linguistic contexts of PNG. This should be complemented by broader structural reforms, legal enforcement, and policy interventions in order to address chronic systemic inequalities.