The Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea is peppered by dozens of small-scale, local conflicts, adding to community vulnerability and the possibility of displacement.
Conflicts are often a result of land ownership disputes, tribal differences and disagreements over compensation.
This week IOM and several provincial governments launched a unique, community-led conflict resolution and peace building programme in Western Highlands, Morobe and Enga provinces.
Under IOM’s Peacebuilding Programme, a range of participants from the provincial governments, the National Disaster and Emergency Centre, the law and justice sector, and conflict-affected communities will work towards successful mediations after a series of training workshops.
The first workshop was held in the Western Highlands province, where sessions on peacebuilding, gender equality, conflict resolution and development were conducted.
A total of 25 people attended the five-day workshop which brought community members, village elders, and government officers together to analyze and manage conflicts.
Participants agreed that demand for conflict analysis and response strategies will increase among policy makers, given the growing intra-province and community socio-political complexities.
Community members took an active part and freely shared their opinions. Sendra from Takenam village in Enga province observed: “Conflict originates in human minds and addressing it at that level will build sustainable peace. It is up to each transformed individual to govern the avenues of the heart such as greed, jealousy, envy and hatred, as these can contribute to the emergence of tribal conflict.”
Freddy Alphonse from Tolenam village in Enga highlighted the role of women’s participation in conflict management: “In PNG, women and children tend to bear the brunt conflict. They are mostly left out in conflict resolution initiatives. This is not because they lack the knowledge or expertise, but perhaps because as usual, their views are never sought nor their initiatives treated with the seriousness they deserve, as they are always relegated to the background in society.”
