The Danger of Discrimination

In some parts of Papua New Guinea, more women experience violence than those who don’t. The rates of violence are so high that employers are fearful of hiring female employees because of it. Violence can impact staff performance, affecting motivation and productivity as well as incurring the cost of disability and absenteeism.

The danger of discriminating against women in the recruitment process has far greater implications than the economic cost of doing so. Denying women access to formal employment based on the assumption that they may have their basic human rights violated perpetuates the vicious cycle.

IWDA’s Funding Leadership and Opportunities for Women program works with program partners across the Pacific to equip women with the skills and confidence to take on informal and formal leadership positions, transform gender relations and access formal employment. It is crucial that women are supported by employers, because when women are excluded, everybody pays the price.