Bougainville Women Leaders Meeting: Recommendations and Action Plan
Kuri Village Resort, Buka Island, 15 May 2003

Background

On 15 May, 165 women from the province of Bougainville gathered in Buka for a one-day meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to support the peace process through discussion of key issues and development of collective recommendations.

Prior to the meeting, participants consulted with women in their districts to ensure views expressed at the Buka gathering would be as widely representative as possible. This Action Plan represents the shared opinions of the women who attended this historic meeting and of those they represented. It provides direction for the way forward and identifies strategies to promote sustainable peace and social harmony in Bougainville.

The Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency organized the meeting because women throughout Bougainville often raised concern about their lack of participation in peace and constitutional reform processes. Concern was also expressed about the welfare of families residing in the No-Go Zone.
Participants at the meeting included executives of district level women’s groups. The meeting also included four women and one man from the No-Go Zone; their participation was highly valued by everyone. Due to transportation problems, women from Siwai, Buin, Bana, Torokina, Koromira/Koianu and the outer atoll islands unfortunately were unable to attend.

A five-person organizing committee assisted with meeting preparations and follow-up. This committee included representatives from the following organizations: Department of Bougainville, Division of Community Affairs (Mrs. Cicely Kekun); Buka District Women’s Council (Mrs Helen Somol); Peace Foundation Melanesian (Mrs. Regina Tsikoa and Mrs. Jancie Kabilu) and Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency (Mrs. Helen Hekena and Mrs. Anne Rangai).
The meeting was attended by a representative of the Post Courier (Ms. Gorethy Kenneth) and the National Broadcasting Commission (Mrs. Antonia Maris). An audio recording of the proceedings is available through NBC in Buka.

AusAID kindly provided funds for the meeting; the Peace Monitoring Group assisted with communication and transportation arrangements; the International Women’s Development Agency provided technical assistance. These contributions to women’s efforts for peace are greatly appreciated.

Overview of Meeting

Following registration at the Kuri Village Resort, the meeting opened with a prayer (Mrs. Cicely Kekun) and singing of the national and provincial anthems. Ms. Margaret Misso, a teacher at the Bishop Wade Secondary School, chaired the meeting. Mrs. Helen Hakena, Executive Director of Leitana Nehan, provided the opening address. Guest speakers included: Hon. James Togel, Member for North Bougainville; Mr. Noel Sinclair, UN Ambassador, Bougainville Observer Mission; Brig. Ian Lillie, PMG Commander and Mr. James Tanis, Vice President of the Bougainville People’s Congress. All speakers reinforced the importance of this meeting and the critical role that women have played, and must continue to play, in peace building efforts in Bougainville. Copies of prepared speeches are available through the Leitana Nehan office.
Participants were divided into district level groups and asked to discuss the following issues: (1) the disposal of weapons (2) law and order (3) withdrawal of the PMG (4) constitutional reform and (5) other topics important to the peace process. One participant from each small group presented their feedback to the large group; the organizing committee prepared a summary of each topic; participants discussed and voted on the proposed action items. The following statements and recommendations represent the views of the majority of participants.

1. Disposal of Weapons

The continued presence of weapons in communities leads to intimidation, conflict, violence and death. Women have been marginalized from discussions and negotiations about the disposal of weapons and have been told it is "not their concern". Many are fearful and feel unable to speak freely about this issue. Disposal of weapons is considered integral to the peace process and a matter of central importance to women and their organizations.

Recommendations:

• Stage III of the Weapon Disposal Program continue;
• All weapons ceased and handed over be destroyed;
• Women’s involvement in weapon disposal negotiations at all levels is essential and must be required;
• Women must speak out and get involved in weapon disposal discussions despite their fears;
• Greater effort must be made to cease the sale of all weapons;
• Parents must assume responsibility for encouraging the surrender of weapons by their children.

2. Law and Order

The law and order situation must be addressed on every level. It is a bigger issue than the presence of weapons or the PMG. The people of Bougainville must assume responsibility for the law and order situation by overcoming their fears and "taking charge". Improving law and order begins with strengthening relationships within and between communities. Parents have a critical role to play in guiding and managing their children. Peace is best taught when parents and communities act as good role models. Chiefs play an essential role in maintaining law and order by justly and efficiently managing community and district affairs. The police system must be properly resourced and supported by communities in order to be effective. The use of alcohol and other drugs is a major contributing factor to law and order problems including rape and domestic violence. Chiefs and police must work in closer collaboration to reduce violence and promote peaceful solutions to family, community and provincial problems.

Recommendations:

• Strengthen the capacity of the police force to carry out their mandate through provision of adequate financial & human resources and training;
• Review and amend the Cease Fire Agreement to provide police with greater authority;
• Establish district-based police operations;
• Establish representative Law and Order Committees in each district;
• Build the capacity of the judiciary system including the effective and just management of village courts;
• Regulate liquor outlets and enforce restricted trading hours;
• Enforce laws on production, trafficking and use of marijuana;
• End prostitution by charging offenders and by exercising greater parental control of children;
• Remove young people from the roadblock at Morgan through the collective effort of Chiefs and parents;
• Government to assist Chiefs in No-Go Zone area to further the peace-building process;
• Communities must agree not to harbour known and suspected criminals;
• Mothers must speak out against the production and sale of home brew in their communities and districts;
• Police must enforce no sleeping laws in public markets;
• Mothers must request that their sons return home;
• Parents must provide greater guidance to young people and more closely monitor their movements.

3. Withdrawal of Peace Monitoring Group

People generally do not feel prepared to manage the law and order situation without the support of the PMG (scheduled to withdraw on 30 June, 2003). Fear of violence restricts freedom of movement and speech for women. Considerable concern exists regarding the potential regression of the peace process without the presence of the PMG. It is important to (1) develop greater public confidence in traditional and government systems for maintenance of law and order and (2) build the capacity of local enforcement agencies before the withdrawal of the PMG. Gradual phasing-out should be considered beginning in the areas of greatest stability.

Recommendations:

• The PMG be extended until weapon disposal is complete and an autonomous government is in place;
• Provision for recall and/or reinforcement should be established.

4. Constitutional Reform

Grassroots people do not understand the proposed constitution or the reform process. The language and concepts are complex and there has been inadequate consultation with communities. Literacy is considered a major obstacle to effective civic engagement in political processes. Women and children’s rights are not sufficiently safeguarded in the proposed constitution; CEDAW and the CRC must be incorporated. Women want parliamentarians that truly represent the voice of grassroots women.

Recommendations:

• Women be given 10 seats in the new government;
• Seats reserved for ex-combatants be abolished;
• Greater awareness and consultation on constitutional reform be immediately undertaken in communities throughout Bougainville;
• Draft Constitution be prepared in understandable language;
• Proposed Constitution be amended to strengthen women and children’s rights and ensure status is restored in accord with custom and with human rights conventions ratified by the PNG Government.

5. Additional Topics

Children are suffering from the lack of education and health services. Priority attention should be given to restoring services in the No-Go Zone. Participants from the No-Go Zone encouraged NGOs to negotiate access to the area in order to provide awareness programs for women and families.
Improved infrastructure is necessary for development to proceed, including upgrading of major access roads.

Women need strong leadership and ongoing opportunities to meet and discuss issues of mutual concern. Women’s collective capacity would be enhanced if all women’s organizations (government, church and NGO networks) worked more closely together.

Recommendations:

• Improve service delivery in isolated and restricted areas;
• NGOs to negotiate access to No-Go Zone to provide awareness programs;
• Improve infrastructure that impedes social and economic development;
• Establish welfare services in each region;
• Increase availability of counselling services and opportunities for spiritual rehabilitation;
• Improve collaboration and cooperation between women’s organizations to ensure women’s collective voices are heard and their participation in decision-making processes is enhanced.

Follow-up Tasks

1. Leitana Nehan will prepare a written summary of the meeting and distribute it to all participants and other stakeholders.
2. The organizing committee will assume a lead role for follow-up action requiring the involvement of women’s organizations.
3. All participants will assume responsibility for follow-up action on recommendations that require action by mothers, families and community-based organizations.
4. All participants will assume responsibility for sharing this document with as many people as possible and for working co-operatively for peace.
5. Leitana Nehan will be responsible for providing an overall progress report to all participants by the end of 2003. All participants will keep the organizing committee informed of key developments in their area.