The Business Coalition for Women Family & Sexual Violence Workplace Contact Team (FSV WCT) training aims to equip key employees within an organization with the necessary knowledge and skills to recognize and appropriately respond and refer fellow employees affected by FSV.

The Coalition conducted two 2-day FSV WCT trainings for BSP Financial Group and Buk bilong Pikinini where 13 employees were trained and certified as their respective company’s FSV Contact Team members.

Successfully training these men and women reflects the Coalition’s unwavering commitment to address these critical issues, foster a culture of safety and respect, and empower positive change within each organization.

• The 2-Day training covered the following sessions for the workplace contact team.

• What is FSV and how does FSV affect the workplace;

• The workplace strategies or policy to address FSV;

• FSV service providers and referral pathways;

• Disclosures: How to have the conversation and;’

• General knowledge and skills to raise general awareness about FSV within the workplace.

“This was a good sensitization training. My takeaway from this training is to be more patient and non- judgmental when supporting staff whether they identify as victim/ survivor or perpetrators. I would also like to network better with the support teams internally to implement the FSV policy.”

BSP Female Participant

“I am now informed about processes involved and have gained some insights on the PNG Law around FSV. I look forward to implementing the FSV policy through ongoing communications.”

Buk bilong Pikinini Participant

Furthermore, the Bel Isi PNG end-line survey undertaken by BCFW and International Finance Corporation (IFC) aimed to identify whether there were benefits to employees and businesses when companies respond to family and sexual violence. It was completed in this quarter with key findings from the survey presented during the BEL Isi FSV Leadership forum on the 18th of May 2023.

Some of the key findings from the survey include:

a) Family and sexual violence impacts people of all genders at all levels of seniority.

b) Almost 1 in 4 (38%) female senior managers reported experiencing FSV more than 12 months ago.

c) Lifetime experience of violence at the endline decreased from 43% in 2020 to 38% in 2022.

d) Emotional and financial abuse remains the most common forms of violence.

e) Under-use of company measures 27% of women and 10% of men experiencing FSV reported accessing Bel Isi services during the past 12 months

f) The proportion of women and men who said family violence is never acceptable increased by 2 and 4 percentage points respectively at the endline.

g) 9 out of 10 men and women say that violence is never acceptable.

h) Better employee well being

i) The average number of lost days due to FSV decreased by 1.4 days per employee per year from almost 10 days when research began

j) Millions of kina in savings for businesses

k) Nearly 60% of women and over 80% of men nominated emergency care for children as one of the most useful supports a company can provide for its employees who are affected by FSV

l) Workplace bullying and harassment as well as online violence emerged as concerns for employees.

m) There is a link between a gender-balanced workforce and positive outcomes.

n) There was also a view among some managers, HR, and Contact Team staff that in instances where there are no disclosures of violence made to the company, no one needs support. This is not necessarily the case. Less than half of all women and men who experienced family and sexual violence spoke to a trained person in the workplace about the problem.

o) Family and sexual violence can affect anyone – regardless of income and educational background. People in all roles from frontline staff, to middle management and senior managers.

Overall, the proportion of women and men in the participating companies who said they had experienced family and sexual violence within their lifetime decreased from 43% in 2020 to 38% in 2022 after accessing the BEL Isi PNG subscription.

Some of the key recommendations from the survey presented to the companies were:

a) Utilize the Bel Isi Subscription - You have subscriptions – use them!

b) Strengthen training awareness-raising on FSV to all staff, including managers and senior leadership;

c) Improve information sharing on existing policies and support programs;

d) Promote Gender Equality and Strengthen diversity – a more equal workforce is correlated with less acceptance of violence, higher reporting, and fewer days lost;

e) Boost bullying, harassment, and online violence policies and practices and support for childcare;

f) Allocate adequate human and financial resources to respond to Family and Sexual Violence;

g) Encourage staff to use available support services.

In summary, training to address family and sexual violence plays a crucial role in raising awareness, preventing violence, supporting survivors, creating safe environments, fostering cultural change, promoting collaboration, and ensuring legal compliance. It empowers individuals and organizations to take a proactive stand against violence and contribute to a society free from abuse and exploitation.

Group CEO BSP Financial Limited and Co-Chair of the Bel isi PNG Steering Committee Mark T. Robinson giving the welcome address.

After several years of navigating COVID-19, the Bel isi PNG Steering Committee welcomed the opportunity to once again host subscribers, business leaders, partners and stakeholders in person through the Bel isi PNG Leadership Forum 2023, held in Port Moresby on 18 May.

“Changing Attitudes – what is the role of men?” was the topic for discussion, moderated by Melkie Anton, a leader in engaging men in the conversation around family and sexual violence. Melkie facilitated guests through a dynamic discussion exploring ways to better understand how men can be part of the solution to ending violence. The open, critical and, at times vulnerable discussion that took place reinforced the private sector's commitment to making a difference.

Addressing family and sexual violence is not only good for individuals, families and communities, it is also good for businesses. Global and local evidence shows that family and sexual violence imposes a significant cost to businesses. In 2015, the Overseas Development Institute conducted a study ‘Gender violence in PNG: Businesses lost 11 days due to FSV, costing one company K3 million in a single year. 1 In 2021, an IFC and Business Coalition for Women study found that workplaces that were actively addressing FSV reduced the numbers of days lost to FSV from 11 to 10.2

Bel isi PNG is positioned to help subscribing companies minimise costs to them and also better support their employees. It provides case management and safe house services to subscribing companies and also advocates for change in the area of family and sexual violence. The Bel isi PNG Leadership Forum is an opportunity in which stakeholders in the private and public sectors and civil society organisations can come together annually, to learn from each other and foster relationships.

“During my first week with BSP I chaired the Steering Committee meeting and learned about the incredible efforts by individuals and organisations in establishing Bel isi PNG. For some families in our community, their homes are where violence is perpetrated and as confronting as this is to all of us, not doing anything about it, is not an option. BSP is proud to be involved in Bel isi PNG and will continue to provide support to the programme as we believe it is the right thing to do.

The Leadership Forum gives us an opportunity to further demonstrate our commitment to the partnership between private sector, public sector and civil society. Since leadership in organisations largely sits with the men, I encourage the men to be leading change in their homes and communities to provide protection as there is no place for violence in our homes and communities.”

Mark T. Robinson, Group CEO BSP Financial Group Limited & Co-Chair of the Bel isi PNG Steering Committee

The Bel Isi PNG initiative is an innovative public private partnership between Papua New Guinean and international businesses, the National Capital District Commission and is supported by the Australian Government in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea, Santos, Bank of South Pacific and Steamships Trading Co.

1Darko E, Smith W, 2015, ‘Gender violence in Papua New Guinea: The cost to business’ Overseas Development Institute.

2International Finance Corporation, 2021, ‘Workplace responses to Family and Sexual Violence in PNG; Building the business case, Washington DC

TotalEnergies PNG celebrated International Women’s Day with cupcakes and a fun activity. Acting Managing Director Mr. Sang Ratnam addressed staff of TotalEnergies PNG. In his remarks, Mr. Ratnam confirmed the company’s stance on equal representation by female position holders in various positions within the organization. Witnessing this event were senior management team members and Mr. Richard Kassman (center in a pink shirt) clearly demonstrating his stance in recognizing women folk as equal contributors in such an industry as Oil & Gas.

Balloons and cup cakes were the highlight of the event and an activity which saw female staff searching for a female colleague’s name on a balloon. This was a fun way to mix and mingle and with each other.

The Bel Isi PNG on ground support, online surveys, case studies reviews and feedback, team activities and professional training has increased knowledge and improved the ability to educate, bring awareness home and into the communities, assist the company to facilitate and provide supportive and helpful information to FSV enquiries, case management reports and referrals.

The Bel Isi PNG & FSV awareness programs has shifted perspectives from making decisions based on staff performance and attendance issues, punctuality, not paying attention to detail, loss of confidence at work, and low self-esteem to asking the question “Is everything okay at home?’’

The culture is non-judgemental in the workplace and the leading teams have settled in to understanding their roles, the journey of FSV survivor, and how far the help goes to save a life and or change for the better. The program has encouraged employees to come forward, open about violent outbursts, mind games, controlling attitudes, misunderstandings that influences violent behaviour, not speaking up, not being heard and to seek help.

Steamships employees have worked and are still working together maintaining and creating an environment that is inviting, judgement free, an atmosphere to be yourself because we do not know what our family in the office go through behind closed doors.

Steamships employees participate in the BEL Isi organised Ending Violence against Women (EVAW) Walk on Friday 25th November 2022 to show support for a great cause.

Steamships is strongly committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for all its employees. It is evident that employees face difficult situations in their work and personal lives, such as Family and Sexual Violence (FSV), including physical, verbal, financial and psychological abuse and other behaviours identified as a form of FSV. This affects their mental health, safety, attendance and performance at work.

The FSV Policy at Steamships has developed a supportive and non-judgemental workplace in which those experiencing forms of FSV feel safe to come forward and seek support. Family & Sexual Violence awareness has been mandated as a Human Resource Induction program and a refresher course delivered six monthly and annually by HR representatives and workplace contacts in all divisions of Steamships to both Citizen and Non-Citizen employees.

The FSV program has been developed, designed, and delivered at different levels of competency to allow employees identify how/where/when and why their role comes into play as a colleague, supervisor, manager, and a workplace contact. The FSV presentation outline include, but is not limited to;

• Introduction to Bel isi PNG

• What is FSV including signs of FSV and an abusive relationship

• My role as a colleague, supervisor, manager and workplace support

• How best Steamships can help staff

• Security and isolation of safe environment

• Confidentiality and disclosure

• Leave entitlement

These points guide workplace contacts, and Steamships responses to employees whose work life is affected by FSV, facilitating a safe workplace for all employees.

The Australian High Commission staff donned purple to mark International Women’s Day.

Did you know that historically, purple was a colour that denoted justice and dignity, and is now used to represent women's rights?

In keeping with this year’s United Nations theme to “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, let’s recognize the innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

Photo below is of AHC staff during International Women’s Day celebrations.

The Bel isi PNG sustainability committee met on Thursday 23rd March to discuss next steps for Bel isi PNG Inc. Discussions were focused on prioritising activities required to ensure smooth transition of what is now the Bel isi PNG partnership to Bel isi PNG Inc. In January, Bel isi PNG Inc was registered with IPA and next steps include Board nominations, recruitment of an Executive Director and office set up. While these will happen in the coming year, subscribers should note that this will not impact the private sector response to FSV.

Sago produced from the first ever mechanised sago mill in PNG has resulted in approximately 400kg of the finished product being donated to the Bel isi PNG safe house in Port Moresby.

The bags of sago were handed over to the Femili PNG POM Director, Ms Rose Walen on Wednesday 22 February. The donation was made possible through the partnership of the Santos funded Oil Search Foundation which purchased the sago with TotalEnergies and OM Holdings Ltd (OILMIN) who arranged logistics transport of the sago from Poroi (Gulf Province) to Port Moresby.

Sago is the staple food for many societies in Papua New Guinea. For people from the Gulf province, societies and lives revolve around sago, from harvesting to the finished product. The traditional way of producing sago is no easy feat and requires a lot of time and effort, most of which is provided by the women and girls.

For the Poroi 2 villagers around the Purari basin, the establishment of PNG’s first ever sago processing mill means women and girls will not have to provide as much labour and time in processing sago. The establishment of the Poroi sago mill was made possible through the partnership of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), local landowner group Koko Nene Henaru, TotalEnergies and OILMIN.

The donated sago will be dried, packed and distributed to other safe houses in Port Moresby as a contribution to the food security of clients in the various services.

Pictured above are Westpac FSV Workplace Contact Team members advocating for equality during the International Women’s Day celebrations.

As part of BEL Isi PNG’s partnership commitment, PNG Business Coalition for Women continues to support the rollout of the Family and Sexual Violence (FSV) Model Policy with the BEL Isi subscribing companies. Westpac PNG Limited is among the subscribing companies who recently undertook the FSV Workplace Contact Team (WCT) training.

A total of seventeen (17) employees (6 males and 11 females) representing key business units right across all Westpac branches nationwide participated in the training on March 6-7 in Port Moresby.

The 2-Day training covered the following sessions:

1. What is FSV and how does FSV affect the workplace?

2. The workplace strategies or policy to address FSV

3. FSV service providers and referral pathways

4. Disclosures: How to have the conversation and;

5. General knowledge and skills to raise general awareness about FSV within the workplace.

At the end of the training, the participants increased their knowledge about FSV, how to adequately support employees who are affected by FSV and how to appropriately escalate allegations about employees perpetrating FSV.

"It is good to note that my employer is advocating against FSV and is currently putting together a policy that will protect the business and the staff. The policy is an important document that will guide how the company should respond to staff affected by FSV and I play an important role in the effective implementation of the policy” . (Trained contact point)

The participants were presented certificates at the end of the training to certify them as FSV WCT members.

PNG continues to provide effective case management services to survivors of Family and Sexual Violence (FSV) residing in Port Moresby from the subscribing companies and the public.

Femili PNG’s case management goal is to help survivors of FSV to get the help they need. Femili PNG caseworkers strives daily to coordinate and collaborate with service providers such as the police, court, safe houses, Family Support Centre (FSC) in order to assist the need of the survivors with regards to arrest, safety and protection, welfare, and their practical needs.

Over the last few months, the Bel isi Case Management Centre (CMC) has helped survivors achieve their goals, including police arrests in four of its cases. The on-going coordination and case discussion with police leads to increase in number of arrests. On a case-to-case basis, Femili PNG also assist survivors to access specialized medical care and referral of FSV survivors to the Welfare Office for appropriate welfare interventions. In addition, nine (9) Interim Protection Orders (IPOs) were lodged of which five (5) were granted by court; IPO summons were served to the perpetrators with the help of the police.

Providing safe accommodation is necessary for many Family and Sexual Violence high-risk survivors. Over the last few months, 23 survivors were assisted with emergency safe accommodation.

Femili PNG acknowledges support from the Bel isi PNG Initiative and the Australian Government and PNG Government through the PNGAUS partnership in helping to continue to provide care, support and change toward survivors of FSV.

The succeeding BSP Group CEO Mark T. Robinson chaired his first Bel isi PNG quarterly Steering Committee meeting at the BSP Waigani Head Office (WHO) on 1st March, 2023.

The meeting was a significant one for Mr. Robinson as it had in attendance the NCDC City Manager and co-Chair, Mr Ravu Frank. Both co-Chairs reinforced their commitment to Bel isi PNG at the meeting and were acknowledged for being advocates for survivors of family and sexual violence (FSV).

BSP as an institution, has become an advocate against FSV, an advocate for FSV intervention and a financial empowerment organisation through its Financial Literacy programme, since launching its Group Family Sexual Violence policy in May, 2019.

Mr. Robinson affirmed that he is keen to continue to take a leading role in BSP’s advocacy campaigns and be a leading voice against gender-based violence (GBV). Mark, with wife Lesley have three sons and a daughter, understands BSP’s advocacy against FSV internally and how it is positively impacting its 4,500 staff and their families. He believes a community is more productive when there is less violence.

He is looking forward to participating in the annual Bel isi PNG Leadership Forum to engage with other leaders of organisations subscribing to Bel isi PNG. He also emphasises engaging with Papua New Guinean men who he would encourage to become role models and advocates to challenge and change attitudes that normalise violence in our societies and workplaces.

ABOUT BSP

BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) formerly Bank of South Pacific Limited, is an iconic and unique bank in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, recognised for its strong commitment to the region. We are a major commercial banking and finance group with assets of approximately PGK28.9 billion.

BSP has the largest branch network in Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu with sub branches and agents in rural locations. The BSP Group employs 4000+ people across the Pacific and proudly supports the communities that we operate in, through Community Projects, Sports, Education, Health, Culture and Financial Literacy.

Our branch network is complemented by electronic banking networks that can meet the banking needs of all customers wherever we operate.

• 70+ Branches

• 13 Premium Service Centre

• 40+ Sub Branche

• 300+ Agents

• 550+ ATMs

• 11,000+ EFTPoS

BSP is proud of our whole of bank capabilities whereby our teams in Corporate, Retail, Paramount and Treasury are able to provide solutions to our clients, drawing on our capabilities and broad presence. This capability is unmatched by our competitors. PNG and the Pacific is our home. We have knowledge, history, experience and a commitment to the region that other financial institutes cannot offer.

www.bsp.com.pg/About-Us/Welcome-to-BSP

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lavinia Mul | Manager - PR & Communications| Email: lmul@bsp.com.pg or Email: PR@bsp.com.pg

Gorethy Semi | Head of Marketing and PR | Email: gsemi@bsp.com.pg m.

BSP Staff attending Bel isi PNG organised EVAW Walk

Since the inception of the BSP Group FSV policy in May 2019, BSP has seen the importance of ensuring we stand by our objective to say NO to violence and create a safe and supportive organizational culture. This year, BSP as a partner and sub-scriber to the Bel isi PNG initiative, participated in the Bel isi PNG organized Elimination Against Violence Walk (EVAW) on the 25th November, along with many other subscribing companies standing in solidarity to voice our stance against all forms of violence against women and girls.

BSP also conducted numerous campaigns during the 16 days of Activism including a Financial Abuse Awareness Campaign that ran for 10 days and our annual ‘I am a feminist’ campaign. The ’I am a feminist’ campaign highlighted the support of BSP Leadership and our partners in an effort to ensure all our work spaces model an organizational culture that is safe and sup-portive for staff who may be experiencing Family and sexual violence and to recognize the partnerships and levels of re-sponse we prioritise to safeguard our community. We are grateful that through our campaigns and the strength of our partner-ships and networks we are able to provide appropriate support using the Bel isi PNG and NCD referral pathways. BSP will continue to be an advocate against all forms of violence against women and girls in all the countries that we operate in.

Santos staff and contractors during an evening in-person DV awareness session.

The Santos Foundation organised domestic violence (DV) or family and sexual violence (FSV) awareness sessions through its gender program for Santos employees and contractors in the lead up to and after the elimination of violence against women (EVAW) day. The team has delivered these sessions for the staff and contractors in Port Moresby and to the three Santos camps offsite.

Through these awareness sessions, over 300 staff and contractors have been reached. The Santos Medical and Wellbeing team were the first team to undergo the sessions, given their role as Santos’ first point of contact for DV or FSV incidences, given their medical background and presence in all Santos locations. The Port Moresby staff were reached through three virtual sessions and the off-field site visits included 3 in-person sessions and 3 virtual sessions for each of the three sites.

The objective of the sessions was to increase participant awareness on what DV is and its different forms and impact, how they can respond to conflict to avoid the risk of violence and how they can access support services. It was also important to note that DV is not just experienced by women and children, men are also impacted by DV. As part of the Santos response to domestic violence, the organisation implements a DV procedure that ensures a safe, consistent, supportive, non-judgemental workplace in which employees exposed to DV can readily seek support. Through the Santos Medical & Wellbeing team, staff can access medical assistance as well as referral to in-house counselling support or to the Bel isi PNG initiative.

Santos is a key partner and subscriber to Bel isi PNG and staff and contractors were also informed of the Bel isi PNG services. The sessions included information on the Bel isi case management centre (CMC) and the services provided from the CMC. It also included information around Bel isi safe house and information around who can access this service. The information sessions also included BCFW’s organisational support available to subscribing organisations how they can help support with education awareness for Santos staff.

The sessions were delivered in a mix of Tok Pisin and English.

Australia Awards Contact Team members and the Bel isi PNG team to witness the certificate awarding ceremony.

With this service in place, staff have received the necessary support requested by them and the feedback they provided was positive,” says Clara Numbasa, a senior coordinator for Short Course Awards and one of the first support officers for family and sexual violence at Australia Awards PNG.

On November 2 and 3, 2022, four staff members of Australia Awards PNG were trained as support officers for family and sexual violence by Business Coalition for Women (BCFW). They succeeded the six other staff who were trained and have been providing this support since 2017. Australia Awards PNG is a member of Bel Isi PNG and has also been working closely with BCFW to deliver leadership courses over the last five years.

The two-day training was designed to give the support officers the skills they need to:

• appropriately respond to a victim’s disclosure, making sure that the victim’s choices are respected,

• support a victim to access available support services, and

• act as leaders and champions to raise awareness about family and sexual violence.

“The support officers are the first point of contact for any employee who may have experienced family and sexual violence”. Lawrence Baro says that the training taught him that Family and Sexual Violence Officers are not there to decide on the best options for survivors, but to advise them on what help is available. “This training was quite confronting for me in some ways,” says Lawrence, “but I also found it reassuring to know that there are processes in place to support people when they are experiencing incredibly difficult situations. I now feel equipped to be able to help my colleagues which gives me confidence in an area I previously found difficult to talk about.”

Family and sexual violence (FSV) is a major problem in PNG and occurs in the community, affecting people regardless of their educational, religious and cultural upbringings. It is one of the leading factors contributing to staff being absent from work or leaving their jobs.

Research has shown that, on average, two out of three women experience family and sexual violence in PNG. Men are also impacted by FSV, but there is lack of reliable data available. Most instances of this occur at home, but it becomes a workplace issue when it affects performance, productivity, or safety of a staff member. Australia Awards PNG prioritizes safeguarding against all forms of harassment and violence in the workplace and for all participants of the program. To ensure the safety of staff and their families, Australia Awards PNG, besides from having support officers, creates a haven for staff by providing access to professional case management services offered by Femili PNG, a professional safe house, and induction sessions for all employees to better understand the services that are available

The first four staff of Australia Awards PNG who were trained as support officers in 2017 were part of the working group who developed the Family and Sexual Violence Policy in line with the Family Protection Act 2013. The policy defines family and sexual violence as unacceptable and says that everyone has the right to live free from fear, violence, and abuse. Family and sexual violence comes in different forms including physical and sexual violence, threats and intimidation, psychological, emotional and social abuse, and economic deprivation.

The Australia Awards PNG’s FSV policy objectives are to promote a compassionate and judgment-free workplace where victims of family and sexual violence feel safe to come forward and ask for help, to direct Australia Awards PNG’s response to families whose work lives are impacted by FSV and to ensure a safe working environment for all employees.

5 TotalEnergies staff trained as Contact Team members with BCFW staff.

Bel Isi PNG is an important initiative and TEP PNG is pleased to subscribe to this important service. The program offers a holistic suite of services and support that is necessary to respond to a complex issue, recognized in the Papua New Guinea National Strategy on Gender Based Violence.

TotalEnergies Exploration & Production Papua New Guinea (TEP PNG) joined the Bel Isi PNG organised Eliminating Violence Against Women (EVAW) walk among hundreds of other Port Moresby city residents on Friday 25th of November 2022.

TEP PNG joined the walk with the intention to promote awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) at home, schools, public spaces, and at workplaces. This commitment is in line with the Company’s objective in achieving the United Nation Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) which aims is to encourage equal rights for girls and women, opportunities to live free without discrimination including workplace discrimination or any violence.

Our continuous support to initiatives like the EVAW aims to build greater connections, partnership and platforms for collective learning and action to shape a better society for everyone.

Participating in the EVAW Walk is an opportunity for TotalEnergies to join with other corporations and stakeholders to create greater awareness for staff and the public.

"We had a really good time all together. It is important to support such initiative. The least that we can do is to participate in this walk as part of our commitment in achieving the United Nation Sustainable Development Goal on Gender Equality, hoping that the message behind this initiative reaches everyone,” said the Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Mr. Richard Kassman.

NCD Governor Hon Powes Parkop and Santos PNG Country Chair Mr Leon Buskens leading the Bel isi PNG organised EVAW Walk.

by Clera Sam

25 November is the International Day for Ending of Violence Against Women (EVAW) and Girls. EVAW day is a globally recognised day aimed at raising the profile of issues related to violence against women and girls. Santos joined major donors and partners of the Bel isi PNG Initiative including BSP, Steamships, National Capital District Commission, Business Coalition for Women, Femili PNG and other subscriber organizations in the ongoing Bel isi PNG organised EVAW Walk.

Bel isi PNG is managed by Santos Foundation on behalf of the partners and this year, the EVAW walk was revived after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. The event brings together the government and the private sector to commit to address Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the country and contribute to improving access to support services. It is estimated that nearly a thousand people including families walked for 8KM demonstrating solidarity against all forms of violence. Santos Country Chair, Leon Buskens in his call-to-action said: “Women and girls deserve to lead safe lives. I am committed to taking leadership in the private sector to encourage my peers and colleagues to champion women’s empowerment and protection. You can also play a part by ensuring your workplace provides a safe environment to help your staff address their challenges and support them to access services.”

Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today and remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it. In PNG over half of women and girls have experienced some form of violence. The Demographic Health Survey 2016-2018 reports that 56% of women aged between 15 - 49 in PNG have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. Along with the significant physical, emotional and mental health impacts, there is a direct cost to business. Addressing family violence is not only good for individuals and communities but it makes good business sense and is a development imperative.

Femili PNG is a proud partner in the Bel isi PNG Initiative, providing assistance to survivors of family and sexual violence to subscribing companies and the public. Femili PNG, a local PNG NGO headquartered in Lae, operates the Bel isi case management centre and safe house.

Femili PNG’s caseworkers work with survivors of family and sexual violence to link them with the assistance they need. This assistance can include access to emergency accommodation, protection orders, law and justice interventions, health and welfare referrals, counselling and information on options. In some circumstances, survivors are assisted to return to their home provinces to escape an abusive relationship. If a survivor requires a means of economic support, Femili PNG also sometimes provides a business start-up kit, which is usually items for bilum or soap-making, seeds or poultry, and so forth, depending on the needs and circumstances of the survivor.

From August to October this year, the Bel isi case management centre assisted 102 clients, of which 95 were new cases and 7 were re-opened cases. Since opening its doors in 2018, the Bel isi case management centre has assisted over 1,500 survivors of violence. Most clients who accessed the Bel isi case management centre from August to October were female adults at 88% of total survivors. 87% of clients were presenting because of intimate partner violence. Of the total survivors assisted, 18% identified as living with a disability.

The clients access the Bel isi CMC through several different ways – many are walk-ins by members of the public (28% of clients in August to October) while others are referred from police (27%) or safe houses (7%). Bel isi business subscribers referred 27% of clients in August to October 2022.

When survivors are referred to the Bel isi CMC, Femili PNG’s caseworkers empower them to determine their short and long-term goals and outcomes. Overwhelmingly, most survivors are seeking a protection order. To assist survivors to achieve their outcomes, the caseworkers take a case management approach which involves a series of follow-up consultations with clients, service providers, and sometimes family members. From August to October, Femili PNG caseworkers conducted 1,145 follow-up consultations, an average of 382 per month.

Over the last three months, survivors were assisted to lodge 25 applications for interim protection orders (IPOs), 14 IPOs were granted and 7 issued. Six IPOs were converted into longer-term protection orders. Other outcomes for survivors included 14 police cases registered and investigated, and three perpetrators arrested. Three clients and five child dependents were repatriated back to their home provinces, and three survivors were assisted with business start-up kits.

Where a client is considered at high risk and it is not safe for them to return home, referrals are made to safe emergency accommodation. From August to October 2022, the Bel isi CMC referred 69 individuals (clients and their dependents) to safe accommodation. Over half of these were to the Bel isi safe house. During the same time, the Bel isi safe house supported 49 individuals, ensuring their care and protection.

Femili PNG is pleased to be working as part of the Bel isi PNG Initiative to stop gender-based violence. We are grateful for the support and partnership of OSF, BSP, Steamships, BCFW and NCDC.

For the festive period, Bel isi Case Management Centre will be open on normal working days except on public holidays (26th & 27th December and 02nd January 2023). Subscribers can call 70554401 for assistance.

Business Coalition For Women services provided under the Bel isi PNG partnership are as follows;

• 1-hour Family and Sexual Violence (FSV) staff education sessions;

• FSV Policy and Review;

• 2-day Family and Sexual Violence (FSV) Workplace Contact Team training or refresher training;

• 30-minute post training Management Briefing;

• 3 & 12 months Follow up (and support).

A snapshot of the number of trainings facilitated by BCFW for Bel isi subscribers, as well as feedback from employees of subscribing companies accessing the Bel isi service is provided in the next page.

Trainings and Awareness sessions:

a) Education sessions

Of the 17 subscribers BCFW conducted 5 FSV Education sessions with 5 companies with a total staff reach of 126. These companies are; Buk bilong Pikinini, World Bank, Australia Awards PNG, Australia High Commission and Westpac.

b) 2-day FSV Workplace Contact team training

To date 12 subscribers have FSV workplace Contact points trained.

This year we facilitated 4 FSV WCT trainings with 4 organizations, training 30 FSV Workplace Contact Points. These companies are; TSSP, Air Niugini, Australia Awards PNG and TOTAL Energies.

“We have been rolling out induction awareness around the policy seeing as many staff were not made aware of the group policy. After the awareness, number of disclosures have increased and more staff are accessing the referral support through Bel isi PNG” Female, Workplace Contact Point – Bel isi PNG Subscriber

“We have attended to seven 7 cases so far since implementing the FSV Policy and all have been handled well through Bel isi PNG/ Femili PNG”. Female, Workplace Contact Point – Bel isi PNG Subscriber.

Photo 1: FSV Forum Group Photo- Participants of the 4th Business Coalition For Women FSV Forum. Representatives from the 7 Bel isi subscribing companies were part of this group of likeminded individuals and businesses with the ultimate goal of addressing cyber/online violence and all other forms of violence

‘Bel isi subscribing companies consider policies and procedures to respond to & prevent cyber/online violence’

Bel Isi PNG’s innovation is three-fold, including partnerships, increasing resources through company subscriptions and galvanising leadership to prevent and respond to FSV. Enforcing focus areas 1 & 3, seven (7) Bel isi subscribers, Air Niugini, Nambawan Super Limited, Kina Securities, PNG-Australia Transport Sector Support Program ( (TSSP), Australia Awards PNG, Westpac & BSP Financial Group strengthened their partnerships and forged new ones by attending BCFW’s 4th annual FSV Forum in November. The BCFW FSV Forum provides the platform on which business leaders and the larger private sector push for greater awareness about FSV.

This year, the FSV Forum comprised of a series of events; a panel discussion, booth exhibition and a presentation on the key findings from the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) survey to measure the success of implementing the FSV policy. Themed as Cyber/Online violence, the forum aimed to help FSV Workplace Contact teams (WCT) to;

(a) Understand what constitutes cyber violence, how to address it and support those impacted by it,

(b) Increase awareness on legislations on cyber/online violence and understand how the reporting process works’ and;

(c) Showcase the existing referral pathways and the services available in the community

The main event of the forum was the panel discussion where representatives from the Office of the Public Prosecutor,

National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), Equal Playing Field and Department of Information & Communication Technology shared insights into cyber violence in PNG.

“My key take away is the obvious absence of a coordinated approach and FSV response amongst the GoPNG (government of PNG) responsible enforcement authorities coupled with lack of financial and human resources to effectively and efficiently handle FSV Cyber Security issues” said Jeane Sliviak, Gender Equity, Disability and Social Inclusion Adviser from the PNG- Australia Transport Sector Support Program (TSSP).

“For me, it was an eye opener, as I never realized that cyber or online violence was actually on the rise and was something that can be pursued as a legal matte….I mean we hear stories about people being hacked on their FB accounts or people using other people’s images, but I never knew that we had avenues to report this and that this was a crime’ added Ritchilyn Barrios, Executive Manager Human Resource Services, Air Niugini.

The discussions uncovered that employees sometimes used company issued cell phones, laptops or internet to perpetuate cyber violence and in response, organizations are tightening their workplace procedures, with some taking a step further to develop policies to prevent and respond to cases related to cyber violence.

‘In terms of impact which the forum has had on my role, it would be the inclusion of the FSV Cyber Security elements in the TSSP FSV Prevention and Response Policy during its review exercise in 2023” shared Jean from TSSP.’

“Thanks to the forum I now know that there are forums out there that we can go to for assistance when we have such a situation” said Ritchilyn from Air Niugini.

Through the forum also, Office of the Public Prosecutor, Bel isi subscribing company BSP Financial Group, and the Bel isi case management centre operated by Femili PNG, were able to come to the aid of an FSV survivor’s plight from the Highlands region.

Furthermore, BCFW and International Finance Corporation (IFC) are nearing the completion of the End-line survey with three (3) companies. This survey will help these companies to better understand the impacts of FSV in the workplace, as well as to find out whether there have been changes in the prevalence, impacts, attitudes to and support for staff affected by FSV. The end-line survey is a follow-up to the baseline research completed in 2020 titled ‘Workplace responses to Family & Sexual Violence in PNG: Measuring the Business Case’ Findings of the research will be presented in early 2023.

In March, the mid-term review of Bel isi PNG was completed by independent consultant Ms Jane Kesno and the recommendations to the Steering Committee are now being implemented. The review noted the many achievements of Bel isi PNG to date and commended the role of the private sector in addressing family and sexual violence in PNG.

Early this year the Bel isi Program Manager position became vacant. While recruiting for a suitable candidate was underway, we understand that this had an impact on progress and communication with Bel isi PNG key partners and subscribers. We thank you for your patience during this time. With the recruitment of the new Bel isi PNG Program Manager in August, we were able to pick up the pace and ensure that subscribing companies’ needs were being met.

Some of the other achievements this year include issuing two newsletters in October and this current December issue. In the new year, these newsletters will be issued quarterly via email. Subscribing companies will be asked to provide content as a way of demonstrating how they have been able to address family and sexual violence (FSV) in their organisations.

In November this year, Bel isi PNG and key partners were able to reinstate the global Eliminating Violence Against Women (EVAW) walk in Port Moresby. This activity had ceased due to COVID-19 restrictions for the past two years. With the lifting of the pandemic restrictions, Bel isi PNG and key partners were able to plan and convene the EVAW walk. On the 25th of November, we were able to have members of the private sector, Government of PNG, civil society and the public join us in the Bel isi PNG organised EVAW walk.

Bel isi PNG also hosted a networking event in December in order for company FSV frontliners or contact team members to share experiences. Special guest was Dinah Paki, a Counsellor who talked about the different forms of trauma and the importance of self-care.

We also bid farewell to the Bel isi PNG Steering Committee Co-Chair, Mr Robin Fleming, CEO for BSP. On behalf of Bel isi PNG would like to thank you for your commitment and leadership towards addressing gender-based violence (GBV), specifically family and sexual violence (FSV) within the private sector and throughout PNG as a whole. Congratulations on a long and stellar career with BSP and the positive changes related to FSV that you have implemented at BSP as well as the private sector under your leadership.

As changes happen, it is also worthwhile to note that as the managing partner of the Bel isi PNG program, Oil Search Foundation has changed its name to Santos Foundation. The name change was launched on Tuesday 13 December by Santos CEO, Kevin Gallagher at the APEC Haus.

Bel isi PNG would like to thank its key partners and all the subscribing companies and staff for your partnership and collaboration this year and we look forward to the continued partnership in 2023.