CIMC celebrates International Women’s Day
CIMC and INA staff commemorating the International Women’s Day with possitive affirmations for women
The Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) staff have joined the world in celebrating International Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8. It is a global day recognizing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while calling for accelerated action toward gender equality.
CIMC plays a significant role in protecting young women and girls across Papua New Guinea through its Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee (FSVAC). The committee works to reduce gender-based violence, strengthen legal protections, and improve access to support services. Because CIMC focuses on policy reform, safe house management, and supporting survivors of abuse, this day is highly significant to the organization.
The Executive Officer for CIMC, Mrs. Wallis Yakam, shared a message emphasizing the ability of women to thrive:
“This is what I want to say to the women of PNG: Celebrate your strength! Dream big! Keep breaking barriers! When you thrive, Papua New Guinea thrives! Happy International Women’s Day 2026!”
While celebrating this important day, Mrs. Yakam also highlighted a critical challenge that young women in the country face daily.
“The biggest challenge faced by women in PNG daily, according to statistics, is the critically high rate of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Family and Sexual Violence (FSV)," she said. "It is considered an epidemic, with studies showing over two-thirds of PNG women experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner a rate significantly higher than the global average.”
To address this ongoing issue, Mrs. Yakam stressed the need for effective systems. “I want to see a system that is effective in terms of support mechanisms for survivors. This requires a multi-sectoral approach by strengthening legal, medical, and other social support services.”
She added, “Changes should be integrated with multiple stakeholder involvement at all levels, whether at the community level through referral pathways, or through case management and police responding to cases effectively and efficiently.”
Ms. Alison Anis, who leads CIMC’s FSVAC, also emphasized: [Quotes to be added here].
CIMC plays a significant part in assisting women and girls in PNG by coordinating policy discussions, responding to GBV/FSV, and supporting economic empowerment through public policy advocacy. CIMC initiated and remains a critical partner in several key initiatives:
Founding the FSVAC: CIMC hosts the Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee, established in 2000 to reduce violence, increase access to support services, and secure justice for survivors.
Advocacy and Coordination: CIMC acts as a bridge between the government, private sector, and civil society to ensure a coordinated approach to women's issues, including organizing forums on gender equality and human rights.
GBV Policy Development: CIMC was instrumental in developing the National GBV Strategy and other frameworks from 2000–2025 by providing technical support and strategic direction.
Supporting Women in the Informal Economy: Through its Informal Economy Sectoral Committee, CIMC works to promote the economic empowerment of women who make up a large portion of this sector by focusing on legal assistance, training, and representation in decision-making.
