Summary
How has Kup Women for Peace (KWP), a community organisation in Papua New Guinea, contributed to reducing violence and ensuring free and fair elections? What progress has KWP made in changing attitudes about women and their roles in society in the Kup sub-district? This article from Gender & Development describes the work of KWP. It shows how in seven short years, KWP has gone from tribal peacebuilding to ensuring a free, fair and violence-free election in Kup.
The Kup sub-district has experienced 20 years of insecurity, violence and unrest, which has contributed to a lack of social and economic growth. Gender inequality is a feature of life in Kup, where women have a lower standing than men. It was in this context that KWP was formed in 1999 to mobilise people to put pressure on traditional leaders to end tribal violence. Working alongside formal and traditional structures, KWP has played an important leadership role in changing attitudes about both violence and women’s roles in society. This is evident from the role KWP played in ensuring a free, fair and peaceful political process in Kup during the 2007 national elections.
During previous elections, Kup experienced widespread voter intimidation, pressure on women not to vote and violence between supporters of rival candidates. During the 2007 national elections, KWP took a leading role to improve the validity of the electoral process and create conditions for peace by:
- conducting voter education over a two-week period – It covered issues including the electoral system, the purpose and process of the election, and voters’ rights, using material pitched at various literacy levels;
- advocating for a ‘Violence-free Election 2007’ – KWP asked electoral candidates to support a violence and gun-free election. Out of 14 candidates, 11 agreed and none of these was involved in any election-related dispute; and
- taking a leadership role in the operation of polling stations – KWP members helped to ensure the privacy of voters and equal participation of men and women and prevention of double-voting.
KWP’s approach to peacebuilding is multi-faceted and locally appropriate, enfranchising many women and educating men in the process. It includes the following elements:
- A non-aggressive, long-term strategy to win over male leaders, based around cultural norms of respect and humility. While KWP has presented a challenge to male dominance in Kup, its aims to work in partnership with traditional structures.
- A primary objective of reducing conflict and building peace through the cessation of tribal and gun violence. KWP mediates between groups across the conflict divide. Members ‘camp out’ on battlefields to prevent violence.
- Addressing structural causes of conflict and the relationship to other types of violence, including violence against women. KWP also engages in activities including community justice, HIV care and sustainable livelihoods programmes.
- Challenging gender inequalities in peacebuilding. All of KWP’s peacebuilding work integrates gender issues, challenging the power imbalances in Kup society and promoting the development of the whole community.
- Tackling violence against women. KWP organises workshops and campaigns and conducts community education to raise awareness of the existence and unacceptability of violence against women.
- An expanded notion of security, to include justice, good governance and access to services. KWP works with law and justice institutions to help them promote gender inequality. It negotiates with the government for basic services for communities.
Source
Hinton, R. et al, 2008, ‘The Kup Women for Peace approach to peacebuilding: taking the lead in the Papua New Guinea national elections’, Gender and Development, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 523 – 533
