Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis today attended a ground-breaking ceremony that will see a new transit lodge built at Koki Market, one of the largest markets in Port Moresby.
The overnight transit lodge, set to improve security for women vendors, is the initiative of the Minister for Sports, National Events and APEC Justin Tkatchenko working in partnership with the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General and Member for Rigo, and the UN Women Safe Cities Program supported by the Governments of Papua New Guinea, Australia, and other implementing partners.
The transit lodge is an innovative addition to the UN Women Safe Cities Program which is helping to address women’s safety and engagement in markets in Port Moresby. The lodge will accommodate up to 50 women vendors and their families when they travel to Koki Market to do business.
Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis said: “Australia is working with partners, through the UN Women Safe Cities Program to build a lodge for women and their families to stay safely overnight when they come to sell their produce.”
“The lodge is the first of its kind for the National Capital District and its design incorporates Papua New Guinean elements, including an outdoor kitchen for communal meal preparation and dining, and a traditional haus tambaran inspired roof,” he said.
The collaborative effort through the UN Women Safe Cities Program will also cover the refurbishment of the market’s bus stop shelter and an extension of the market roof to cover previously uncovered market stalls exposed to the sun.
Current work at Koki Market, has been in response to a scoping study carried out by UN Women on markets in Port Moresby, which found that almost 55 percent of respondents reported experiencing some form of violence at the markets.
Mr Davis said: “Addressing safety for women and children in Papua New Guinea requires collective will to ensure all sectors are working together. Australia is working in partnership with Papua New Guinea and other implementing partners on a project that is helping to provide a safer place for women vendors and their families to earn a livelihood.”
Australia is supporting the UN Women Safe Cities Program through the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative. The support has seen the program’s implementation at the Gerehu and Gordons Markets, and the Koki Market. The transit lodge at Koki Market is expected to be completed in mid-2017.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100
L-R: Minister for Public Service & Member for Abau Puka Temu, Minister for Sports, National Events and APEC & Member for Port Moresby South Justin Tkatchenko, Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis and Minister for Justice and Attorney-General & Member for Rigo Ano Pala at the ground-breaking ceremony.