Papua New Guinea

Although Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a resource-rich country, nearly 40 percent of population lives in poverty. PNG remains one of the most dangerous places to be a woman or girl, and weak implementation of laws on violence against women and children fosters a culture of impunity. Prime Minister James Marape has committed to reforms to address gender-based violence, but little real progress has been made. PNG has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. One in 13 children die each year, mostly from preventable diseases. Violence that started during the 2022 general elections persisted in the Highland regions in 2023.