Project Update: UNFPA Her Health and Dignity in Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste
On average, one out of three women globally experience some form of gender-based violence (GBV) during their lifetime. GBV remains pervasive in the Asia and Pacific regions, which experiences the highest rates of GBV in the world. The Asia-Pacific region has seen significant investment in strengthening GBV response services across the various sectors – health, justice, police, psychosocial support, and security among others – both in development and humanitarian settings. However, the majority of survivors never seek services in response to their experience of violence.
Through a partnership with UNFPA, Zonta’s support of Phase 2 of the “Her health and dignity, Our Priority” successfully strengthened national capacities of the health sectors in Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste. The program delivered quality responses to survivors of GBV by expanding services in additional underserved geographical locations in Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste, as well as institutionalizing the interventions within government systems for sustainability.
In 2024, UNFPA implemented long-term sustainable curricula through the national training of healthcare professionals to include knowledge and skills necessary to provide survivor-centered care. The UNFPA country offices actively engaged government counterparts, especially the Ministry of Higher Education, fostering ownership and facilitating seamless integration into higher education and healthcare systems.
Along with the advancements in the development of the health sector, the program succeeded in strengthening multi-sectoral coordination through joint training programs on survivor-centered case management, refined national and sub-national GBV referral pathways, and strengthened case management systems through training and technical support. Through the survivor support, training emphasized the importance of confidentiality, a cornerstone of survivor trust. The installation of sturdy door handles and double bolted locks, alongside other facility improvements, has created a safer environment for survivors.
Though the partnership with Zonta International ended in 2024, the lessons learned in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste were used to develop a comprehensive toolkit to support other countries in strengthening their health sector response to GBV. The toolkit, currently in its final stages of completion, aims to provide practical guidance and resources for governments and health professionals across the region and includes three essential components:
- A strategic roadmap, outlining a clear pathway for countries to enhance their GBV health sector response.
- A detailed guidance note on training programs, emphasizing their role as a crucial component within a broader, multi-faceted approach.
- A regional brief highlighting the critical importance of amending mandatory reporting policies to ensure survivor safety and promote effective intervention.
6 JUNE 2025