International Women’s Day - Time to focus on Papua New Guinea’s young women

06 March 2015, Port Moresby— Diane Kambanei, General Secretary of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), grew up in a small town in Sepik. Her childhood in this part of Papua New Guinea introduced her to some of the obstacles faced by young women across the country. She became a champion for women’s rights, advocating for young women to have access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, which will give young women the option to choose when and how many children they want to have.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a growing population of young people, with the 2011 Census reporting 58% of the population being under 25 years of age. The unprecedented numbers of young people, particularly young women, throughout the country has a profound effect on every aspect of social and economic development in PNG.
The needs and rights of young Papua New Guinean women are often overlooked, especially their sexual and reproductive health rights. As a consequence, teenage pregnancy is very high in PNG, with 13% of adolescent girls becoming mothers, often not out of choice. Pregnancy can be a very frightening experience for adolescent girls, as they may be forced to drop out of school and/or marry the father of the child, who may not want to nor able to look after them.
Women and girls with access to sexual and reproductive health services, such as family planning, have more choices in their lives. Adolescent girls are more likely to stay in school longer and have fewer and healthier children. More years in school increases their work opportunities and contribution to the workforce. Having choices in life empowers women to plan their life, make decisions, and be recognized as an equal member of society.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with YWCA, is working to overcome some of the obstacles faced by young women throughout the country. The collaboration between the two organisations began with a radio program called TokStret on NBC. The use of radio was seen as an effective tool to be able to get information about sexual and reproductive health out to remote parts of the country where it is difficult for young women to access information and services. The partnership has evolved to include youth outreach activities aimed at empowering young women and making sure they feel safe and confident to have control over their own bodies.
“Sexual and reproductive health training is important; I would say it is a necessity in PNG. From our experience (YWCA) in conducting sexual reproductive health training for many years, we have seen that SRH is not properly addressed in schools because teachers aren't sensitized to SRH issues and therefore aren't comfortable to talk about this in schools,” says Kambanei. “When young women aren't informed at school or at home, they make misinformed choices.”
UNFPA and its implementing partners including YWCA, are calling for urgent investments in young women so they may be engaged in their communities and the development of PNG. Critical investments needed are those that protect rights, including sexual and reproductive rights, improve health, and provide skills and knowledge to empower young women to make decisions that affect their lives. Continued focus on young women and their needs should be a high priority for PNG and central to the next chapter in the country’s development.