The Nation’s Capital will celebrate the International Women’s Day with a three-night market and a unity walk, NCD Governor Powes Parkop, announced at a press conference yesterday in Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby.
The global theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “rights, justice and action for all women and girls”, calling on partners, institutions, the private sector and communities everywhere to stand up, show up and speak up for rights, justice and action so all women and girls can live safely, speak freely and exist equally.
Related news: https://www.postcourier.com.pg/pom-to-celebrate-international-womens-day-with-night-market-and-walk/
The night market, organized by NCDC, will run from Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8, 2026, at the stadium car park.
It is expected to provide a vibrant and inclusive platform for women entrepreneurs and small business owners to showcase and sell a range of products.
Governor Parkop said the city has organized activities and programmes aimed at the economic empowerment of women.
“We know that women constitute the largest percentage of traders in our markets, and we want to provide innovative avenues for them to sell their products and for the public to get involved in celebrating International Women’s Day,” he said.
He also revealed that the city will soon launch a women’s economic empowerment strategy to support entrepreneurs, including traders in markets and small business owners.
Mr. Parkop called on residents to attend the three-night event.
“I encourage our people to come and spend the evening with their families at the stadium car park and buy products on offer.
I also want to encourage women business owners to take advantage of this opportunity because we are providing the space for free,” he said.
Other planned activities include a walk from Ela Beach to Sir Hubert Murray Stadium on Sunday, March 8, starting at 5.30am.
The Governor said the walk symbolizes unity, strength and collective commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
He stressed that the walk is a deliberate effort to raise awareness about gender equality and the human rights of women and girls, and to provide an opportunity for communities to participate and access information.
Active City Development Program Manager, Ezra Adino, also encouraged communities to attend all three days of activities.
“It’s very important that we also turn up on Friday and Saturday, not just on Sunday for the walk. So, we encourage everyone out there to turn up in big numbers on these three days and to support our women and to make them feel empowered,” he said.
Mr. Adino said Active City will set up a booth during the three-night market to provide information about its programs and answer questions from the public.
“On Sunday especially, we will have all our teachers and participants lead the walk, as they always do. We are very excited and look forward to this great event, especially that it involves women empowerment. This is something that we take very preciously, and we will continue to guide and support the women who come to our program,” he said.
“All our programs are free of charge and, of course, inclusive. That means we also bring in women and girls, and we encourage them to take leadership roles and to feel equal as men and not feel any lesser compared to men,” he said.
He said the program, founded by NCDC, is grateful for the support it has received over the years to ensure resources are available to continue offering free activities.
“One of the activities we do is the walk, and the next walk that we are anticipating is International Women’s Day. We will be taking lead during this walk, and we encourage all the women participants in our program to take lead,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wilma Kosi, National Women’s Representative for the Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress, said the peak workers’ organization and its affiliates support the events leading up to International Women’s Day.
“It is important that we commemorate International Women’s Day in celebration of what women have achieved as partners, homemakers and workers, and also in shaping the way forward for a fairer, more productive and inclusive society,” she said.
She commended Governor Parkop, NCDC and Active City Development program for their efforts in making the city safer for women and girls, as well as development partners working to address issues affecting women and girls.
During the lead-up to International Women’s Day, she said the PNG Trade Union Congress, in partnership with NCDC Family and Gender Equality Women Empowerment Secretariat, will host a two-day consultative workshop for workers on March 4 and 5 on the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work.
“The main purpose of this workshop is to complete the formulation of the National Action Plan for Trade Unions in Papua New Guinea,” she said.
She added that trade union organizations in NCDC will turn out in numbers on Sunday to participate in the walk.
“We encourage residents of our national capital to join us for this walk to celebrate the contribution of all women in Papua New Guinea and globally, both in society and in the economy,” Kosi said.