Illustration by Gazellah Bruder

Introducing ‘The WEAVERS Research Report – The Women’s Rights Movement in Papua New Guinea: where we came from, where we are and where we wish to go’.

This new collaborative research highlights the strengths, challenges and powerful role of the women’s rights movement in PNG.

The WEAVERS Research Report is the outcome of research conducted by Dr Orovu Sepoe (Lead Researcher) and a steering committee of diverse PNG women’s rights advocates and rights actors. It delves deep into the PNG women’s rights movement to understand “where we came from, where we are, and where we wish to go”. The research team engaged with 38 women’s rights organisations from five research sites across PNG.

The research reveals a strong cultural precedent of women coming together in PNG – Meri Bung in Tok Pisin – providing a strong foundation for today’s women’s rights movement.

Research findings also highlight that despite fragmentation, weak institutional linkages and funding constraints, women’s rights organisations share a “collective consciousness” – meaning they have a shared understanding of their values and purpose that informs their perseverance in taking action to advance and protect women’s rights.

The research was wholly locally-led and guided by the steering committee, which worked collaboratively across all research phases and had representation from disability inclusion and human rights organisations, faith-based groups, and groups representing LGBTQI+ people.

The report provides future directions and recommendations for the women’s rights movement, governments, supporters and partners.

The research was commissioned by International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) and funded by the Australian Government through the PNGAus Partnership.