New website for HWC

Please note we have a new site and a new domain name: www.hakowomen.org .
This site will no longer be updated.
If you would like to be alerted when new posts are published on the new site, please click here  and click on the "RSS Feed" link.
We hope you will enjoy the new site.
If you have trouble with it, or have any questions, please contact us.

Environment: research on rare animals in Bougainville

An interesting news item about preparations for important conservation research in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands, with support from the Australian Museum and Professor Tim Flannery: click here for details.

A morning tea held in honour of the launch of the Australian Museum’s Solomon Islands Expedition in 2016. Professor Tim Flannery, Dr Jeff Noro and Junior Novera

Photographer:

Tim Levy

Rights:

© Australian Museum

Progress with Resource Centre building

Here are some photos showing progress on the building as of yesterday. At the left of the picture you can see the reading area and library entrance; at the right of the picture, you can see the safe house, at the back of the building.
More funds are needed to complete work on the building: so far, over $2000 has been received, which is wonderful. To go to the crowdfunding campaign, click here.

HWC Resource Centre: Progress and fundraising

Work is going ahead on completing the HWC Resource Centre building. Here are some photos sent through from Buka showing progress today, and an earlier photo showing the front of the building.

Funds are still urgently needed for this work, as noted in an earlier post. The campaign on GoFundMe is going well, with $1200 raised so far, but there is some way to go to reach the target of $5000. To donate, or spread the news, click here.

Making built-in furniture for the Resource Centre, 1/3/2016

Laying concrete in the reading area, 1/3/2016
 

Preparing to lay concrete, 1/3/2016

Reading area at front of the Resource Centre, 17/2/2016

Opening of the BWF new building - photograph

As promised, here is a photograph from the opening of the Bougainville Women's Federation new building. The BWF office is on the upper level and the cafe at ground level.

Click here to read a speech by Hona Holan, Founding President of BWF, at the opening. Hona outlined the stages of the project from the time it was first proposed in 2013, including the many people and organisations whose support was engaged.

One of the important motivations for the building was to provide clean, safe public toilets and shower for women and their children, some of whom travel long distances to the market.  The cafe will provide a safe place for women to market vendors and visitors to relax, purchase healthy food, and get support and information in a friendly atmosphere. No such facilities previously existed in Buka town: these will make a great difference to women coming to Buka town and to the market.

The cafe, and other activities in the building, will also provide an income stream to cover costs of maintaining the building, and will provide opportunities for local women to learn useful skills in running small businesses.

Congratulations to BWF on the completion of this project. It's a great example of how people working in their own communities can come up with creative and resourceful  plans, and bring them successfully to fruition.

Funds to complete the Resource Centre: GoFundMe campaign

I posted a couple of days ago about the HWC's urgent need for some funds to help with completion of the Resource Centre. I have now set up an online account to help with making donations. If you would like to donate, please go to gofundme.com/6ur2aces .

Launch of the Bougainville Women's Federation building and cafe

On 10 February 2016 the Bougainville Women's Federation (BWF) new building at Buka town was formally opened by Natasha Stott-Despoja, Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls.

I have been promised some photographs, but there have been technical and communications problems. In the meantime, you can read about the history of BWF and the project here. Further information about BWF is available here.

Help needed!

HWC has been working hard on the various programs, but has run into some problems recently with money and banks. In a phone call from Marilyn in Buka yesterday morning, much interrupted by poor reception in rainy weather ( in Buka and Sydney) I heard that HWC is in urgent need of around $5000 to pay for work done on the Resource Centre and some other immediate expenses.

If you would like to donate, please go to gofundme.com/6ur2aces .

Rethinking economic focus to prevent future conflict

An interesting article by Catherine Wilson has been published by Inter-Press Service (IPS) about some of the pressures facing Pacific nations in seeking to establish stable societies developing in a sustainable way. The article notes the risks to stability and underlying issues that remain unresolved, including 'inequality, land disputes, fragile governance and youth unemployment', and particularly notes the problems associated with the extractive industries (mining), corruption and land ownership.

The article refers to the particular risks for nations that have experienced civil war and acknowledges the work of HWC on practical reconciliation at grassroots level, including comments by the HWC President, Dorcas Gano: 'We live in a very tolerant and peaceful community where everyone has chosen to live above the situation, but underneath the surface there is frozen trauma….Relatives don’t mention the mass graves in town covered by new infrastructure or the beatings and near deaths during interrogations. We are working quietly alongside other leaders to negotiate reconciliation in these matters.'

The article also quotes Dame Meg Taylor, Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat who 'believes that ensuring sustainable peace and development also depends on “a structural shift in the development paradigm.” That is, rethinking the extractive economic focus, which has failed to alleviate hardship and inequality, and seeking one that will build fair and prosperous Pacific Island societies, the best insurance against future conflict.'

To read the full article, click on the title:
 Peaceful Decade but Pacific Islanders Warn Against Complacency by Catherine Wilson

Sydney launch of Jubilee Australia report on Bougainville Mining Act

Devil in the Detail

The new Jubilee Australia report, The Devil in the Detail, about the Bougainville Mining Act 2015, was launched by David Shoebridge MLC and Senator Lee Rhiannon on 11 November 2015 at NSW Parliament House.

The Bougainville Mining Act, passed on March 26, 2015, raises serious concerns as local communities are largely unaware of its provisions that include hefty penalties and imprisonment for infringement of the Act.  

The report analyses provisions of the Act which could be in violation of international covenants and with Bougainville’s constitution. It also compares claims made about the Act by politicians and others, with its actual terms.

“Given the bloody history and sensitivities around mining in Bougainville, it’s vital that the Act is understood,” Jubilee Australia CEO, Brynnie Goodwill, said. “The profound impact on the socio-ecological, cultural and economic wellbeing of local communities must be protected.” 

A number of provisions give rise to concern. Under the new mining law: 

• Landowners do not have veto power over the grant of an exploration license, which can still be approved despite local dissent.
• Attempts to withdraw consent to mining by preventing access to land or negotiating fairer terms after landowner permission has been given are criminalised and can attract substantial fines (250,000 kina) and imprisonment (5 years). 
• Mining is also considered a 'public purpose', enabling the Autonomous Government of Bougainville to compulsorily acquire land for mining despite local dissent. 

Funding for cultural preservation 2016

From Bougainville News blog:

Bougainville Funding opportunity alert up to US$100,000 U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation 2016 by bougnews The U.S Embassy Port Moresby and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State are pleased to announce the 2016 call for proposals for the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP). Since its creation by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. AFCP has provided financial support to more than 640 cultural preservation projects in more than 100 countries and represents a contribution of nearly $26 million towards the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide. Proposals are welcome from Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The Fund is aimed at preserving cultural sites, objects and forms of traditional expression that have a historical or cultural significance. Of particular interest are projects that support risk reduction and disaster preparedness for cultural sites and collections in seismically-active and other disaster- prone areas as well as projects that empower women, youth or under-served communities. Grants usually range from $10,000 to $100,000, but may be higher for exceptional projects. The deadline for submitting a proposal in English is Friday, January 8, 2016 at 4:30pm PNG time. Proposals should be submitted to: U.S. Embassy Port Moresby, Public Affairs Section Attn: Public Affairs Officer PDPortMoresby@state.gov Subject: U.S. Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation 2016 For more information about the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation 2016, please contact the Public Affairs Section at PDPortMoresby@state.gov or go to the Embassy’s website at http://portmoresby.usembassy.gov

Progress on the BWF cafe in Buka Town

As you can see from this photo, work on the cafe under the Bougainville Women's Federation office in Buka Town is nearly complete! Plans are to compete the fit-out in October-November 2015 and start operating the cafe before the end of the year. For more about the BWF and this project, click here.

Thank you! Message from Dorcas Gano, HWC President

Hako Women’s Collective would like to thank all of the people and organisations who helped in one way or another with the ‘shipping container project’, and to share with you some of the wonderful things that happened because of it. Many people and organisations including NSW Parliament, Churches and Schools supported this project, by donating goods, donating money, helping with moving and packing the goods, taking part in a fundraiser, helping with organisation and logistics, and giving support and encouragement to the Sydney team. We are very grateful to you all. For more of the story, click here.

Receiving all of these materials has given us the resources we needed to put into practice many of the projects we have been planning, in some cases for a number of years. Just as importantly, knowing that people so far away are interested in our work and want to support it has been very encouraging. Using the materials from the container:

• Hako Women’s Collective’s aim is to complete the renovation of a former mechanic’s workshop into a Resource Centre in Ngalkobul Village with an office, library, meeting area and a safe house for women escaping domestic violence ready for official public use from June 2016. Books, teaching resources, beds, tables and chairs, office furniture, linen, paint; tools and many other donations have all been utilized in establishing this Resource Centre.

• School and community groups will be able to visit the Resource Centre and use the books and other resources once cataloguing and library set up is completed.

• Workshops, library visits and annual events such as World Environment Day, World Food Day, HIV/AIDS Day, Human Rights Day etc will continue but with better facilities for sustained programs from the Hako Resource Centre.

• Bougainville Women’s Federation has completed and furnished its new office and cafe in Buka Town, and has been able to run sewing and other workshops in many parts of Bougainville. The donated sewing machines and Café resources are in valuable tools for the women’s programs.

• The surgeon at Buka Hospital received the surgical instruments at a critical time  when he had completely run out of plates and screws to set broken bones. With the surgical resources in the container he was able to work through his operating list.

• The Autonomous Bougainville Government Hansard office was able to install and start using the computer servers donated by NSW Parliament.

Hako Women’s Collective has plans for some important new projects, as well as ongoing commitments. Our major projects over the next couple of years are:

• To build an Amenities Block with water tank for provision of basic amenities adjacent to the Resource Centre with toilet, shower, kitchen and eating / refreshment area

• To construct a Food Security Office and Rice Milling shed next to the Resource Centre as part of the existing complex and services to Hako Community (population 30, 000)

• To establish a Training Centre on a surveyed site of land granted to HWC at Tanamalo Village in Hako for Adult Education, Literacy, IT Training and Joblink courses

• To develop partnerships with Autonomous Bougainville Government, Bougainville Women’s Federation and program funding partners for training and reconstruction of resources in Civil Society post conflict community development.

If you would like to make a donation to help our work, please contact us for bank details. 

We are most grateful for your support and interest. 

Yours sincerely

Dorcas Gano 

President, Hako Women’s Collective

Moses Havini

Moses Havini, a great Bougainville hero and a wonderful man, died on Saturday 2 May. Moses was a Hako chief whose life was devoted to the people of Bougainville. During the civil war in the 1990s, when a blockade imposed by the PNG Government cut off the whole of Bougainville from any contact or interaction with the rest of the world, Moses, with his wife Marilyn and their children, became the voice of the Bougainville people, advocating for them in Australia and internationally, documenting and publishing the reported human rights abuses, and keeping the crisis in the public eye. Moses played an important role in negotiating the eventual resolution of the crisis, followed by the establishment of the Autonomous Bougainville Government.

Following the Peace Agreement, Moses and Marilyn returned to live with their clan in Buka to take part in the reconstruction, an enormous project after almost a decade of civil war and deprivation.  From the outset Moses was a strong supporter of the Hako Women's Collective and its projects, and their house was established as a "Meri Sef Ples" for women escaping domestic violence. 

Moses became seriously ill in 2013 and was flown to Sydney for treatment. Over the next 18 months he endured extensive chemotherapy and stem cell treatment with his customary stoicism and grace. Despite his illness he continued working for the ABG and on various projects and achieved an extraordinary amount: every extra hour he gained from medical treatment was well spent. Moses and Marilyn worked enormously hard on the Sydney end of the shipping container project, and were thrilled to see the ultimate success of the project. 

Moses was a beautiful man with a keen mind and an open heart. He was a beacon of wisdom and honesty and a born leader. He never stopped thinking about how to make the world a better place and especially how to make Bougainville a better place for its children to inherit. Rest in peace.
See also the Obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Inquiry into Australian aid to PNG

The Senate is conducting an Inquiry into The delivery and effectiveness of Australia’s bilateral aid program in Papua New Guinea. 

Submissions close today, Friday 24 April. The Inquiry is due to report on 26 November 2015. 

The Terms of Reference are:

The delivery and effectiveness of Australia‘s bilateral aid program in Papua New Guinea (PNG), with particular reference to:

a)      the political, economic and social objectives of Australia‘s aid;

b)      the role of multilateral and regional organisations, non-government organisations, Australian civil society and other donors;

c)       scope for increasing private sector involvement in sustainable economic growth and reducing poverty;

d)      scope for expanding private sector partnerships in leveraging private sector investment and domestic finance;

e)      improving PNG‘s progress towards internationally-recognised development goals;

f)       supporting inclusive development by investing in good governance, health and education, law and justice and women‘s empowerment;

g)      establishing realistic performance benchmarks to assess aid outcomes against set targets and to improve accountability; and

h)      the extent to which development outcomes in PNG can be improved by learning from successful aid programs in other countries.

Strategic Action Plan for 2015-2017

HWC has approved a Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for the next 3 years at its second 2015 General Meeting on 10 March 2015. Click here to view the SAP.

Looking for the next generation of women leaders

The Bougainville Women's Collective and its member organisations have some very strong and inspirational leaders, many of whom have been active in their communities for many years. But there are comparatively few young women taking on leadership roles or preparing to do so, and this is a great concern for those concerned about continuing the important work.

The Bougainville Women's Federation has recently conducted a survey of young women in Bougainville to try to find out why this is so, and how they can encourage young women to prepare for leadership.

Hona Holan, President of the BWF, was interviewed about the survey on Radio NZ: to  hear the interview click here.

The BWF is now implementing plans developed to involve young women in leadership.

White Ribbon Day celebrated in Bougainville

Friday 28 November 2014: A program of events was held in Buka for White Ribbon Day, to end violence against women and girls. This is a devastating problem in Bougainville and throughout PNG and a public statement of this kind is an important step in changing the attitudes that allow violence to flourish.
Those present included the three women members of the ABG House of Representatives, and representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, UN Women, Bougainville Police Service and the law and justice sector. The Bougainville Women's Federation was represented  by Hona Holan.
For photographs and further information on the Bougainville News website, click here.

Farewell to the missing people from the 1990s civil war

A ceremony has been held at Buka Passage to commemorate the thousands of Bougainville people who died in the civil war of the 1990s. Many people disappeared or were taken away and their bodies were never found.
See the ABC report here.
The report is available in Tok Pisin here.
A first hand report from the Mekamui News site (Clive Porabou) can be seen here.

Done and dusted (almost)

It seems that they have done wonderful job in Buka of sorting out the container contents and getting them moved. Nina has sent another article about the last couple of days, which you can view here. Some of the materials they will start using straight away: but the BWF still have more building to complete before they can open the cafe.

Many thanks to all the people who contributed to this project. I'll post updates when I get them so you can see how the projects are progressing.