UNICEF Papua New Guinea’s Post

10-year-old Jessica patiently waits while her parents complete their 5th session of the Parenting for Child Development Program in a village in Morobe Province. Over the past three years, more than 15,000 parents and caregivers across six provinces in Papua New Guinea have taken part in parenting programs supported by UNICEF—learning to replace harsh discipline with nurturing care. Currently in Papua New Guinea, 3 in 4 children experience violence, with 85% of fathers admitting to hitting their children. These harsh parenting practices are both ineffective and can have negative consequences ranging from immediate impacts to long-term harm. The Parenting for Child Development Program gained national momentum when Papua New Guinea joined the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children. There, the government pledged to scale up positive parenting nationwide recognising it as essential to protecting children and preventing violence. With this strong commitment, parenting support is no longer a side effort—it's becoming a cornerstone of child protection in Papua New Guinea. Parenting matters. When caregivers are supported, children thrive. #ChildProtection #ForEveryChild #PapuaNewGuinea